Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 4

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Devanagari script

आलोक्य तु महाप्राज्ञः परमाकुलचेतसम्।राममेवानुशोचन्तं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरासदत्।।।।

Transliteration

ālोकya tu mahāprājñaḥ paramākulacetasam |

rāmam evānuśocantaṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir āsadat ||

Translation

فلما رأى السائق الحكيم راما ينوح وقلبه في غاية الاضطراب، دنا منه وقد ضمّ كفّيه بخشوع.

Word by Word

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise
• महाप्राज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘very wise’)

• परम-आकुल-चेतसम्: with a greatly agitated mind
• परम-आकुल-चेतसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘with extremely agitated mind’), विशेषणम् (रामम्)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• अनुशोचन्तम्: grieving
• अनुशोचन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-शुच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रामम्)

• सूतः: the charioteer
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘with folded hands’

• आसदत्: approached
• आसदत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-सद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Seeing the king brooding over Rama, in an extremely agitated state, the sagacious charioteer approached him with folded hands.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sūta (charioteer)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as seva (respectful service): a subordinate approaches a suffering noble with humility, indicating social ethics of care and reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

A charioteer notices Rāma’s grief and approaches respectfully, signaling an attempt to assist or inquire amid the crisis.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The charioteer’s humility and prudent concern, expressed through folded hands and respectful approach.