Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तमायान्तं तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्।भरतायाऽचचक्षेऽथ विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।।।

Transliteration

tam āyāntaṃ tu samprekṣya sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān |

bharatāyācacakṣe ’tha vinayajño vinītavat ||

Translation

Seeing him approaching, the valiant Sumantra—skilled in propriety—humbly informed Bharata.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (pronoun)

• āyāntam: approaching
• āyāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-yā (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: Śatṛ-present participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (qualifying tam)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (तु-निपात)

• samprekṣya: having seen
• samprekṣya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-pra-īkṣ (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Gerund in -ya (ल्यप्), avyaya-prayoga

• sūtaputraḥ: son of the charioteer (Sumantra)
• sūtaputraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (sūtasya putraḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pratāpavān: valiant/mighty
• pratāpavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; matup-anta (वत्)

• bharatāya: to Bharata
• bharatāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī-vibhakti (dat/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana

• ācacakṣe: informed/told
• ācacakṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada/ātmanepada usage: ātmanepada form

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequence particle (अथ-निपात)

• vinayajñaḥ: knowing propriety/modesty
• vinayajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (vinayaṃ jānāti), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vinītavat: humbly
• vinītavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinīta-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (manner adverb; -वत् used adverbially)

Context

The valiant Sumantra, conversant with ways of modesty, observed Guha approaching them and humbly informed Bharata.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Bharata
• Guha

FAQs

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

Maryādā (proper conduct): communication to a king is done with humility and decorum, preserving respect and order.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha is approaching Bharata; Sumantra notices and formally reports it to Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and tact—Sumantra’s disciplined, respectful speech.