Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.51 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 51

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तेषां वचः सर्वगुणोपपन्नंप्रस्विन्नगात्रः प्रविषण्णरूपः।निशम्य राजा कृपणः सभार्योव्यवस्थितस्तं सुतमीक्षमाणः।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ vacaḥ sarvaguṇopapannaṁ

prasvinnagātraḥ praviṣaṇṇarūpaḥ |

niśamya rājā kṛpaṇaḥ sabhāryo

vyavasthitas taṁ sutam īkṣamāṇaḥ ||

Translation

فلما سمع الملكُ كلامَهم، وهو كلامٌ تامُّ الخصال وحسنُ المشورة، وقف بائسًا من الحزن مع زوجاته: جسدُه يتصبّب عرقًا، ووجهُه كئيبٌ، وبصرُه معلّقٌ بابنه.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of 'niśamya' (having heard)

• sarvaguṇopapannam: endowed with all virtues
• sarvaguṇopapannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + guṇa + upapanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past participle (क्त) of upa+pad 'endowed/possessed'; compound: sarva-guṇa-upapanna = endowed with all virtues; qualifying 'vacaḥ'

• prasvinnagātraḥ: with perspiring body
• prasvinnagātraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasvinna + gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: prasvinna-gātra = having perspiring limbs; qualifying 'rājā'

• praviṣaṇṇarūpaḥ: with a dejected look
• praviṣaṇṇarūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praviṣaṇṇa + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: praviṣaṇṇa-rūpa = of dejected appearance; qualifying 'rājā'

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni + śam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय), 'having heard'

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṛpaṇaḥ: wretched / grief-stricken
• kṛpaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'rājā'

• sabhāryaḥ: with (his) wives
• sabhāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; avyayībhāva: sa-bhārya = together with (his) wife/wives; qualifying 'rājā'

• vyavasthitaḥ: stood / remained
• vyavasthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + ava + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'standing/remaining'

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sutam: son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition with 'tam'

• īkṣamāṇaḥ: looking at
• īkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'while looking at' qualifying 'rājā'

Context

Dasaratha and his wives, overcome with grief, heard their words steeped in virtue(wisdom). The king stood there with his perspiring body and melancholic appearance, fixing his gaze on his son.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē catvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma (implied as 'son')
• ministers (implied as speakers of counsel)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed through endurance: even amid intense sorrow, the king restrains himself and remains outwardly composed, reflecting the burden of royal responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving ministerial counsel, Daśaratha—along with his queens—stands overwhelmed, watching his son at the moment of separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forbearance under suffering: the verse highlights the king’s human grief while implying the need to uphold decorum and duty.