Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 1

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

प्रत्याश्वस्तो यदा राजा मोहात्प्रत्यागतं पुनः।अथाऽजुहाव तं सूतं रामवृत्तान्तकारणात्।।।।

Transliteration

pratyāśvasto yadā rājā mohāt pratyāgataṁ punaḥ |

athājuhāva taṁ sūtaṁ rāma-vṛttānta-kāraṇāt ||

Translation

When the king, having recovered from his fainting delusion and regained himself, then summoned that charioteer—so as to learn the true account of Rāma.

Word by Word

• प्रत्याश्वस्तः: consoled/recovered
• प्रत्याश्वस्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-आ-√श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) used adjectivally to राजा

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: when)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मोहात्: from delusion/fainting
• मोहात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• प्रत्यागतम्: having returned (to senses)
• प्रत्यागतम्: Prakāra (प्रकार/ अवस्था)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-आ-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) used adverbially with implied 'to consciousness' (having returned)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kāla/Prakāra (काल/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla-sambandha (कालसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• आजुहाव: called/summoned
• आजुहाव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूतम्: charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रामवृत्तान्तकारणात्: because of the news about Rama
• रामवृत्तान्तकारणात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-वृत्तान्त-कारण (प्रातिपदिक: राम + वृत्तान्त + कारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (because of)

Context

When the king regained his consciousness and was consoled, he summoned the charioteer to hear news about Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is central: the king seeks an accurate account of Rāma, showing that right action must be grounded in truthful information, even amid grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha regains consciousness after collapsing in sorrow and calls Sumantra to hear what happened to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in leadership: Daśaratha, though broken, tries to understand events clearly by summoning the direct witness.