Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 7

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

कैकेय्याः प्रियकामेन रामः प्रव्राजितो मया।यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतत्तदसत्यं भविष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

kaikeyyāḥ priya-kāmena rāmaḥ pravrājito mayā | yadi satyaṃ bravīmy etat tad asatyaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

若我直言其真：‘为遂凯凯伊之愿，我将罗摩放逐’，那真话本身也将被当作虚妄。

Word by Word

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रियकामेन: for (her) pleasure
• प्रियकामेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रियस्य कामः (desire for pleasure)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karma (कर्म/Object in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रव्राजितः: was exiled
• प्रव्राजितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि: ‘was sent into exile’

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-सम्बन्धी अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of ‘bravīmi’)

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object/apposition to satyam)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असत्यम्: untruth
• असत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (untruth)

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

If I tell the truth, 'To please Kaikeyi I have sent Rama to the forest', none will believe it and will consider it untruth.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Satya is not only speaking facts but preserving moral credibility: Daśaratha recognizes that actions contrary to dharma can make even truthful speech socially unbelievable.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha anticipates public disbelief at the motive behind Rāma’s exile—doing it merely to please Kaikeyī seems morally impossible to others.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral awareness and concern for public trust: the king understands that legitimacy depends on dharmic reasoning, not mere assertion.