Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 16

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

उष्णमन्तर्दधे सद्य स्स्निग्धा ददृशिरे घनाः।ततो जहृषिरे सर्वे भेकसारङ्गबर्हिणः।।2.63.16।।

Transliteration

uṣṇam antardadhe sadyaḥ snigdhā dadṛśire ghanāḥ | tato jahṛṣire sarve bhekasāraṅgabarhiṇaḥ || 2.63.16 ||

Translation

في الحال تلاشى الحرّ، وظهرت سُحُبُ المطر لامعةً نديّة. فابتهج الجميع: الضفادع والإوزّ والطواويس.

Word by Word

• uṣṇam: heat
• uṣṇam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); here as subject: ‘heat’

• antardadhe: vanished/disappeared
• antardadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• snigdhāḥ: glistening/moist
• snigdhāḥ: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ghanāḥ

• dadṛśire: were seen/appeared
• dadṛśire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ghanāḥ: clouds
• ghanāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः = ‘thereafter/from that’)

• jahṛṣire: rejoiced
• jahṛṣire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying bheka-sāraṅga-barhiṇaḥ

• bheka-sāraṅga-barhiṇaḥ: frogs, geese, and peacocks
• bheka-sāraṅga-barhiṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheka (प्रातिपदिक) + sāraṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + barhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व): ‘frogs, geese, and peacocks’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

The birds with their plummage moistened as if they had dipped in water reached with great difficulty the tops of the trees which were shaken by the wind and rain.

Characters & Entities

• Clouds (ghanāḥ)
• Peacocks (barhin)

FAQs

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

Dharma aligns with harmony: when oppressive conditions end, life naturally returns to balance—suggesting that righteous order supports flourishing for all beings.

What is the narrative situation?

The monsoon arrives: the oppressive heat subsides, clouds gather, and creatures associated with rain respond with joy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness to signs and seasons—an awareness valued in a ruler and hunter alike, who must act responsibly within nature’s rhythms.