Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 22

एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः

Devanagari script

कैकेय्या विनियुक्तेन पापाभिजनभावया।मया न मन्त्रकुशलैर्वृद्धैस्सह समर्थितम्।।2.59.22।।

Transliteration

kaikeyyā viniyuktena pāpābhijana-bhāvayā |

mayā na mantra-kuśalaiḥ vṛddhaiḥ saha samarthitam ||2.59.22||

Translation

受凯凯伊驱使——其心意与结党皆为罪恶——我未与精通国政的年长谋臣商议并求得认可。

Word by Word

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• viniyuktena: having been incited
• viniyuktena: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrumental cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+ni+yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); अर्थे: 'having been incited/appointed'

• pāpābhijana-bhāvayā: of wicked lineage and intent
• pāpābhijana-bhāvayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्/Qualifier of kaikeyyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhijana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'of sinful lineage/disposition'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle/निषेध-अव्यय)

• mantrakuśalaiḥ: with counsellors skilled in advice
• mantrakuśalaiḥ: Sahakārī (सहकारी/Associates)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'skilled in counsel'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vṛddhaiḥ: with elders
• vṛddhaiḥ: Sahakārī (सहकारी/Associates)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थः/Comitative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (adverbial particle: 'together with')

• samarthitam: was not endorsed / was not supported
• samarthitam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+arth (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); अर्थे: 'approved/supported/consulted' (here: 'was not supported/endorsed')

Context

Incited by Kaikeyi of sinful relations and sinful motive, I did not consult expert, elderly counsellers.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires deliberation and wise counsel; impulsive decisions under harmful influence violate the duty of a king to act prudently for the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha laments that he acted under Kaikeyī’s pressure without consulting experienced elders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal virtue highlighted by contrast is prudence (vicāra) and reliance on wise counsel; Daśaratha admits his failure in it.