Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 20

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

हन्त शीघ्रमितो गत्वा द्रक्ष्यामि च महीपतिम्।सह त्वं परिवारेण सुखमास्व रमस्व च।।।।

Transliteration

hanta! śīghram ito gatvā drakṣyāmi ca mahīpatim |

saha tvaṁ parivāreṇa sukham āsva ramasva ca || 2.16.20 ||

Translation

“Ah, I shall go from here at once and see the king. You, together with your attendants, stay here comfortably and be at ease.”

Word by Word

• hanta: ah!/come!/indeed
• hanta: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hanta (अव्यय)
• Form: Harṣa/āścarya-sūcaka nipāta (interjection/particle)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa-rūpaṃ napuṃsaka-accusative used adverbially (adverb)

• itaḥ: from here
• itaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative adverb (tasil-pratyaya), 'from here'

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), having gone

• drakṣyāmi: I shall see
• drakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: Lṛṭ (लृट्) Simple Future, Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष) Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avayava (conjunction)

• mahīpatim: the king (lord of the earth)
• mahīpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: mahyāḥ patiḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sahārtha-avyaya (preposition-like indeclinable)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā Ekavacana

• parivāreṇa: with attendants/retinue
• parivāreṇa: Sahakāraka/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parivāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया) Ekavacana

• sukham: happily/comfortably
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa-rūpaṃ napuṃsaka-accusative used adverbially

• āsva: stay/sit
• āsva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ās (आस्) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्) Imperative, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष) Ekavacana

• ramasva: rejoice/enjoy
• ramasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (रम्) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ Imperative, Ātmanepada, Madhyama-puruṣa Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

Context

I shall go from here immediately and see the king. Remain here happily and rejoice with your maids.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Daśaratha (mahīpati, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as prompt obedience to rightful summons and respectful prioritizing of the king’s call, while also ensuring the well-being and comfort of one’s spouse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma prepares to go immediately to meet King Daśaratha and instructs Sītā to remain comfortably with her attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s readiness and responsibility—swift action aligned with duty, combined with considerate care for Sītā.