Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 60

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

जानामि परमां भक्तिं मयि ते भर्तृवत्सल।शृणु चापि यदर्थं त्वां प्रेषयामि पुरीमितः।।2.52.60।।

Transliteration

jānāmi paramāṃ bhaktiṃ mayi te bhartṛvatsala |

śṛṇu cāpi yadarthaṃ tvāṃ preṣayāmi purīm itaḥ || 2.52.60 ||

Translation

I know your supreme devotion to me, O loyal servant of your master. Now listen to the purpose for which I am sending you from here back to the city.

Word by Word

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of भक्तिम्

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• मयि: in me / towards me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; pronoun

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; pronoun

• भर्तृवत्सल: O one devoted to your lord
• भर्तृवत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.) voc. form used as address; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भर्तुः वत्सलः/वत्सला

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/also

• यत्-अर्थम्: for what reason
• यत्-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; अर्थे द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष/अव्ययीभावार्थ: 'for what purpose'

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; pronoun

• प्रेषयामि: I send
• प्रेषयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्/इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense in usage 'send'

• पुरीम्: to the city (Ayodhya)
• पुरीम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादानार्थक (ablatival adverb)

Context

O Sumantra, listen! I know your deep devotion to me (I also know) you are loyal to your master (Dasaratha). So I am sending you to the city (Ayodhya) from here.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sumantra
• Ayodhyā (purī)

FAQs

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

Dharma as role-based duty: Rāma honors Sumantra’s dual loyalty—service to the prince and fidelity to the king—aligning personal bonds with rightful obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

After departing toward exile, Rāma instructs Sumantra to return to Ayodhyā with a specific message and purpose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s respect for truth and propriety—he communicates clearly, acknowledging loyalty and assigning duty without coercion.