Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 17

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तथैवायुधजालानि भ्रातृभ्यां कवचानि च। रथोपस्थे प्रतिन्यस्य सचर्म कठिनं च तत्।।2.40.16।।सीतातृतीयानारूढान् दृष्ट्वा दृष्टमचोदयत्। सुमन्त्रस्सम्मतानश्वान् वायुवेगसमान्जवे।।2.40.17।।

Transliteration

sītā-tṛtīyān ārūḍhān dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭam acodayat | sumantraḥ sammatān aśvān vāyu-vega-samān jave ||

Translation

فلما رآهم قد ركبوا—وسيتا ثالثتهم—حثّ سومنترة الخيل المُحسَنة المُختارة، السريعة كهبوب الريح، فانطلق بها مسرعًا إلى الأمام.

Word by Word

• प्रतियाते: upon (his) departure
• प्रतियाते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-yā (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध): 'when (he) had departed'

• महारण्यम्: the great forest
• महारण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महत् अरण्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिररात्राय: for a long time
• चिररात्राय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cira-rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चिरं रात्रा/रात्रिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; purpose/extent 'for a long time'

• राघवे: when Rama (Raghava)
• राघवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; in locative absolute with प्रतियाते

• बभूव: arose/occurred/was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नगरे: in the city
• नगरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• मूर्छा: fainting/stupor
• मूर्छा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrcchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बलमूर्छा: loss of strength/strength-stupor
• बलमूर्छा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala-mūrcchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बलस्य मूर्छा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to मूर्छा

• जनस्य: of the people
• जनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

Context

Having seen Rama set out for the great forest for a long period, the city was stilled and men were enervated.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• horses
• chariot

FAQs

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

Faithful service (sevā) to the rightful prince: Sumantra performs his entrusted duty efficiently, supporting a dharmic mission even when the situation is painful.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā board, Sumantra sets the chariot in motion with swift horses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and professional competence: Sumantra’s disciplined execution of duty.