← 2.11 Daśaratha’s pleas fail to move Kaikeyī · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.13 The abhiṣeka awaits Daśaratha →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 12: Daśaratha summons Rāma

Summary. Kaikeyī insists on the promise, Daśaratha repudiates her & Bharata, Sumantra leaves unaware of the exile

Sequence

  1. Kaikeyī tells Daśaratha that truth is the highest duty and that he must honor his promise (2.12.1–3)
  2. she cites rulers who sacrificed their bodies or eyesight to keep their commitments and threatens to die if he refuses (2.12.4–7)
  3. unable to escape the promise, Daśaratha renounces both her and her son (2.12.8–11)
  4. she answers that he should summon Rāma and carry out the arrangement (2.12.12–14)
  5. Daśaratha says that, bound by duty and overwhelmed, he longs to see his eldest son (2.12.15–16)
  6. Kaikeyī directs Sumantra to fetch Rāma → Sumantra sees the King's distress but does not understand its cause; he leaves believing the summons concerns the abhiṣeka. (2.12.17–24)

Verses 2.12.1–24

2.12.1

putraśokārditaṃ pāpā visaṃjñaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi
viveṣṭamānam udīkṣya saikṣvākam idam abravīt

Gazing at the Ikṣvāku king—tormented by grief for his son, senseless, fallen to the ground and writhing—the wicked woman said this:

Words: putraśokārditaṃ — tormented by grief for his son; pāpā — the wicked woman; visaṃjñaṃ — senseless, unconscious; patitaṃ — fallen; bhuvi — on the ground; viveṣṭamānam — writhing, rolling about; udīkṣya — having gazed at; saikṣvākam — the scion of Ikṣvāku (Daśaratha); idam — this; abravīt — said

2.12.2

pāpaṃ kṛtveva kim idaṃ mama saṃśrutya saṃśravam
śeṣe kṣititale sannaḥ sthityāṃ sthātuṃ tvam arhasi

“What is this—as though you had done some evil deed? Having pledged me your promise, you lie sunk upon the ground; you ought rather to stand firm in your commitment.

Words: pāpaṃ — an evil deed; kṛtveva — as if having done; kim — what; idaṃ — this; mama — to me; saṃśrutya — having promised; saṃśravam — a promise, pledge; śeṣe — you lie down; kṣititale — on the surface of the earth; sannaḥ — sunk, collapsed; sthityāṃ — in (your) steadfastness; sthātuṃ — to stand firm; tvam — you; arhasi — ought

2.12.3

āhuḥ satyaṃ hi paramaṃ dharmaṃ dharmavido janāḥ
satyam āśritya hi mayā tvaṃ ca dharmaṃ pracoditaḥ

For those who know dharma declare truth to be the highest dharma; and it was by taking my stand on truth that I urged you to your duty.

Words: āhuḥ — they declare; satyaṃ — truth; hi — for, indeed; paramaṃ — highest, supreme; dharmaṃ — dharma, duty; dharmavido — those who know dharma; janāḥ — people; satyam — truth; āśritya — having resorted to, relying on; hi — indeed; mayā — by me; tvaṃ — you; ca — and; dharmaṃ — to (your) duty; pracoditaḥ — were urged, incited

2.12.4

saṃśrutya śaibyaḥ śyenāya svāṃ tanuṃ jagatīpatiḥ
pradāya pakṣiṇo rājañ jagāma gatim uttamām

Having made his promise to the hawk, King Śaibya, lord of the earth, gave over his own body to the bird, O king, and attained the highest state.

Words: saṃśrutya — having promised; śaibyaḥ — the Śaibya king (Śibi); śyenāya — to the hawk; svāṃ — his own; tanuṃ — body; jagatīpatiḥ — lord of the earth; pradāya — having given over; pakṣiṇo — to the bird; rājañ — O king; jagāma — went to, attained; gatim — state, goal; uttamām — highest

2.12.5

tatha hy alarkas tejasvī brāhmaṇe vedapārage
yācamāne svake netre uddhṛtyāvimanā dadau

So too the splendid Alarka, when a brahmin who had mastered the Vedas begged of him, plucked out his own eyes and gave them, undismayed.

Words: tatha — so too, likewise; hy — indeed; alarkas — Alarka; tejasvī — splendid, full of energy; brāhmaṇe — when a brahmin; vedapārage — who had mastered the Vedas; yācamāne — was begging; svake — his own; netre — the two eyes; uddhṛtyāvimanā — having plucked out, undismayed; dadau — gave

2.12.6

saritāṃ tu patiḥ svalpāṃ maryādāṃ satyam anvitaḥ
satyānurodhāt samaye velāṃ khāṃ nātivartate

And the ocean, lord of the rivers, endowed with truth, out of regard for truth does not at the appointed time overpass its slender bound, the shore-line.

Words: saritāṃ — of the rivers; tu — but, indeed; patiḥ — the lord (ocean); svalpāṃ — very slight, small; maryādāṃ — boundary, limit; satyam — truth; anvitaḥ — endowed with; satyānurodhāt — out of regard for truth; samaye — at the appointed time; velāṃ — the shore-line, tide-limit; khāṃ — its (appointed) bound; nātivartate — does not overstep

2.12.7

samayaṃ ca mamāryemaṃ yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi
agratas te parityaktā parityakṣyāmi jīvitam

And if you will not keep this compact of mine, O noble one, then, cast off by you, before your very eyes I shall give up my life.

Words: samayaṃ — the compact, agreement; ca — and; mamāryemaṃ — this ... of mine, O noble one; yadi — if; tvaṃ — you; na — not; kariṣyasi — will do, fulfill; agratas — in front, before (your eyes); te — of you, your; parityaktā — cast off, abandoned (fem.); parityakṣyāmi — I shall abandon, give up; jīvitam — (my) life

2.12.8

evaṃ pracodito rājā kaikeyyā nirviśaṅkayā
nāśakat pāśam unmoktuṃ balir indrakṛtaṃ yathā

Thus urged on by the unhesitating Kaikeyī, the king could no more loose the noose than Bali could loose the bond made by Indra.

Words: evaṃ — thus; pracodito — urged on, incited; rājā — the king; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; nirviśaṅkayā — unhesitating, fearless; nāśakat — was not able; pāśam — the noose, snare; unmoktuṃ — to loose, undo; balir — Bali; indrakṛtaṃ — made by Indra; yathā — as, like

2.12.9

udbhrāntahṛdayaś cāpi vivarṇavanado 'bhavat
sa dhuryo vai parispandan yugacakrāntaraṃ yathā

His heart grew distracted and his face turned pale; he was like a yoke-ox trembling between the yoke and the wheel.

Words: udbhrāntahṛdayaś — with distraught heart; cāpi — and also; vivarṇavanado — pale of face; 'bhavat — became; sa — he; dhuryo — a draught-ox, yoke-bearer; vai — indeed; parispandan — quivering, struggling; yugacakrāntaraṃ — between the yoke and the wheel; yathā — like

2.12.10

vihvalābhyāṃ ca netrābhyām apaśyann iva bhūmipaḥ
kṛcchrād dhairyeṇa saṃstabhya kaikeyīm idam abravīt

With his two eyes reeling, the lord of the earth, as though he could not see, steadying himself with difficulty by his fortitude, said this to Kaikeyī:

Words: vihvalābhyāṃ — reeling, faltering (dual); ca — and; netrābhyām — with the two eyes; apaśyann — not seeing; iva — as if; bhūmipaḥ — the lord of earth; kṛcchrād — with difficulty; dhairyeṇa — by fortitude, firmness; saṃstabhya — having braced, steadied himself; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; idam — this; abravīt — said

2.12.11

yas te mantrakṛtaḥ pāṇir agnau pāpe mayā dhṛtaḥ
taṃ tyajāmi svajaṃ caiva tava putraṃ saha tvayā

That hand of yours which, with sacred formulas, I clasped in the presence of the fire—that, O wicked one, I renounce, and your son born of me as well, together with you.

Words: yas — which; te — your; mantrakṛtaḥ — joined with sacred formulas; pāṇir — hand; agnau — in the fire; pāpe — O wicked woman; mayā — by me; dhṛtaḥ — held, clasped; taṃ — that (hand); tyajāmi — I abandon, renounce; svajaṃ — born of myself; caiva — and too; tava — your; putraṃ — son; saha — together with; tvayā — you

2.12.12

tataḥ pāpasamācārā kaikeyī pārthivaṃ punaḥ
uvāca paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ vākyajñā roṣamūrchitā

Then Kaikeyī, of wicked conduct, skilled in words and stupefied with rage, spoke to the king once more this harsh speech:

Words: tataḥ — then; pāpasamācārā — of wicked conduct; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; pārthivaṃ — to the king; punaḥ — again; uvāca — said; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyaṃ — speech, words; vākyajñā — skilled in speech; roṣamūrchitā — stupefied with rage

2.12.13

kim idaṃ bhāṣase rājan vākyaṃ gararujopamam
ānāyayitum akliṣṭaṃ putraṃ rāmam ihārhasi

“Why do you speak this word, O king, like the torment of poison? You ought to have the untroubled Rāma, your son, brought here.

Words: kim — why, what; idaṃ — this; bhāṣase — you speak; rājan — O king; vākyaṃ — word, speech; gararujopamam — like the pain of poison; ānāyayitum — to have brought here; akliṣṭaṃ — untroubled, unwearied; putraṃ — son; rāmam — Rāma; ihārhasi — you ought (to bring) here

2.12.14

sthāpya rājye mama sutaṃ kṛtvā rāmaṃ vanecaram
niḥsapatnāṃ ca māṃ kṛtvā kṛtakṛtyo bhaviṣyasi

Having set my son upon the throne, having made Rāma a forest-dweller, and having made me free of rivals, you will have accomplished your purpose.”

Words: sthāpya — having established; rājye — in the kingdom, on the throne; mama — my; sutaṃ — son; kṛtvā — having made; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vanecaram — a forest-dweller; niḥsapatnāṃ — free of rivals (co-wives); ca — and; māṃ — me; kṛtvā — having made; kṛtakṛtyo — having accomplished your purpose; bhaviṣyasi — you will become

2.12.15

sa nunna iva tīkṣeṇa pratodena hayottamaḥ
rājā pradocito 'bhīkṣṇaṃ kaikeyīm idam abravīt

Like an excellent horse goaded by a sharp whip, the king, spurred on again and again, said this to Kaikeyī:

Words: sa — he; nunna — goaded, driven; iva — as, like; tīkṣeṇa — sharp; pratodena — by a goad, whip; hayottamaḥ — best of horses; rājā — the king; pradocito — spurred on, urged; 'bhīkṣṇaṃ — again and again; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; idam — this; abravīt — said

2.12.16

dharmabandhena baddho 'smi naṣṭā ca mama cetanā
jyeṣṭhaṃ putraṃ priyaṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi dhārmikam

“I am bound by the bond of dharma and my senses are gone; I wish to see my dear, righteous, eldest son Rāma.”

Words: dharmabandhena — by the bond of dharma; baddho — bound; 'smi — I am; naṣṭā — lost, destroyed; ca — and; mama — my; cetanā — consciousness, sense; jyeṣṭhaṃ — eldest; putraṃ — son; priyaṃ — dear; rāmaṃ — Rāma; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmi — I wish; dhārmikam — righteous

2.12.17

iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā kaikeyī tadanantaram
svayam evābravīt sūtaṃ gaccha tvaṃ rāmam ānaya

Hearing the king's words thus, Kaikeyī thereupon said herself to the charioteer: “Go, bring Rāma.”

Words: iti — thus; rājño — of the king; vacaḥ — words, speech; śrutvā — having heard; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; tadanantaram — immediately after that; svayam — herself; evābravīt — indeed said; sūtaṃ — to the charioteer; gaccha — go; tvaṃ — you; rāmam — Rāma; ānaya — bring

2.12.18

tataḥ sa rājā taṃ sūtaṃ sannaharṣaḥ sutaṃ prati
śokāraktekṣaṇaḥ śrīmān udvīkṣyovāca dhārmikaḥ

Then that king, his joy sunken with regard to his son, glorious and righteous, his eyes reddened with grief, looked up and said to the charioteer:

Words: tataḥ — then; sa — that; rājā — king; taṃ — that; sūtaṃ — charioteer; sannaharṣaḥ — whose joy has sunk; sutaṃ — son; prati — toward, regarding; śokāraktekṣaṇaḥ — with eyes reddened by grief; śrīmān — the glorious one; udvīkṣyovāca — having looked up, said; dhārmikaḥ — the righteous one

2.12.19

sumantraḥ karuṇaṃ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā dīnaṃ ca pārthivam
pragṛhītāñjaliḥ kiṃ cit tasmād deśād apākraman

Sumantra, hearing the piteous words and seeing the king dejected, with joined palms drew back a little from that place.

Words: sumantraḥ — Sumantra; karuṇaṃ — the piteous (speech); śrutvā — having heard; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; dīnaṃ — wretched, dejected; ca — and; pārthivam — the king; pragṛhītāñjaliḥ — with joined palms held forth; kiṃ cit — a little; tasmād — from that; deśād — place; apākraman — drew back, withdrew

2.12.20

yadā vaktuṃ svayaṃ dainyān na śaśāka mahīpatiḥ
tadā sumantraṃ mantrajñā kaikeyī pratyuvāca ha

When the lord of the earth himself, out of his misery, was unable to speak, then the counsel-wise Kaikeyī answered Sumantra:

Words: yadā — when; vaktuṃ — to speak; svayaṃ — himself; dainyān — out of misery; na — not; śaśāka — was able; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of earth; tadā — then; sumantraṃ — to Sumantra; mantrajñā — wise in counsel; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — indeed

2.12.21

sumantra rāmaṃ drakṣyāmi śīghram ānaya sundaram
sa manyamānaḥ kalyāṇaṃ hṛdayena nananda ca

“Sumantra, I shall see Rāma; bring the handsome one quickly.” And he, supposing it to be something auspicious, rejoiced in his heart.

Words: sumantra — O Sumantra; rāmaṃ — Rāma; drakṣyāmi — I shall see; śīghram — quickly; ānaya — bring; sundaram — the handsome one; sa — he; manyamānaḥ — thinking, supposing; kalyāṇaṃ — something auspicious; hṛdayena — in his heart; nananda — rejoiced; ca — and

2.12.22

sumantraś cintayām āsa tvaritaṃ coditas tayā
vyaktaṃ rāmo 'bhiṣekārtham ihāyāsyati dharmavit

Sumantra, hurriedly urged on by her, reflected: “Clearly the righteous Rāma will come here for his consecration.”

Words: sumantraś — Sumantra; cintayām āsa — reflected, thought; tvaritaṃ — hurriedly, in haste; coditas — urged; tayā — by her; vyaktaṃ — clearly, evidently; rāmo — Rāma; 'bhiṣekārtham — for the sake of the consecration; ihāyāsyati — will come here; dharmavit — the knower of dharma

2.12.23

iti sūto matiṃ kṛtvā harṣeṇa mahatā punaḥ
nirjagāma mahātejā rāghavasya didṛkṣayā

So the charioteer, having made up his mind, again with great joy, the mighty one set out with a desire to see the Rāghava.

Words: iti — thus; sūto — the charioteer; matiṃ — the mind, resolve; kṛtvā — having made; harṣeṇa — with joy; mahatā — great; punaḥ — again; nirjagāma — set out, went forth; mahātejā — the greatly splendid one; rāghavasya — of the Rāghava (Rāma); didṛkṣayā — with the desire to see

2.12.24

tataḥ purastāt sahasā vinirgato mahīpatīn dvāragatān vilokayan
dadarśa paurān vividhān mahādhanān upasthitān dvāram upetya viṣṭhitān

Then, having suddenly come forth in front, gazing at the kings who stood at the gate, he saw the many wealthy townsfolk who had approached and, having come up to the gate, were waiting there.

Words: tataḥ — then; purastāt — in front, forward; sahasā — suddenly; vinirgato — having come forth; mahīpatīn — the kings, lords of earth; dvāragatān — standing at the gate; vilokayan — gazing at; dadarśa — saw; paurān — the townsfolk, citizens; vividhān — various, many; mahādhanān — very wealthy; upasthitān — present, who had approached; dvāram — the gate; upetya — having come up to; viṣṭhitān — standing, waiting

← 2.11 Daśaratha’s pleas fail to move Kaikeyī · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.13 The abhiṣeka awaits Daśaratha →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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