Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.47 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 47

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

मम तावन्नियोगस्थास्त्वद्बन्धुजनवाहिनः।कथं रथं त्वया हीनं प्रवक्ष्यन्ति हयोत्तमाः।।2.52.47।।

Transliteration

mama tāvan niyoga-sthās tvad-bandhu-jana-vāhinaḥ | kathaṃ rathaṃ tvayā hīnaṃ pravakṣyanti hayottamāḥ ||

Translation

هذه الخيولُ النجيبةُ—وهي تحت أمري وقد اعتادت أن تحملك أنت وأصحابك—كيف ستجرّ هذه العربة الآن وقد خلت منك؟

Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th), Singular

• tāvat: then/for now
• tāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle = ‘then/so long/for now’

• niyoga-sthāḥ: under command
• niyoga-sthāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त, √sthā)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = ‘standing in/under orders’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies hayottamāḥ

• tvad-bandhu-jana-vāhinaḥ: bearing you, their lord/kinsman
• tvad-bandhu-jana-vāhinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvat (युष्मद्) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Multi-member Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘carrying your kinsman (i.e., you)’

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb = ‘how?’

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु; ‘by/with respect to you’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental, Singular

• hīnam: devoid of (you)
• hīnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies ratham; ‘deprived of’

• pravakṣyanti: will draw/carry forward
• pravakṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vah (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd Person, Plural; Parasmaipada; ‘will carry/draw’

• hayottamāḥ: the best horses
• hayottamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya = ‘excellent horses’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

How can these excellent horses who used to carry you and your friends till now draw this chariot without you even though they are at my command?

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as loyalty in service: even animals and attendants are bound by a kind of faithfulness to the rightful master, reflecting the moral order around a dhārmic leader.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra expresses that even the horses will resist returning without Rāma, showing the depth of separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast devotion and service—Sumantra’s and symbolically even the horses’.