Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — Daśaratha’s Death Discovered in the Palace

Morning Rites Turn to Lament

Devanagari script

ततस्तु स्तुवतां तेषां सूतानां पाणिवादकाः।अपदानान्युदाहृत्य पाणिवादा नवादयन्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu stuvatāṁ teṣāṁ sūtānāṁ pāṇivādakāḥ | apadānāny udāhṛtya pāṇivādā navādayan ||

Translation

ثمّ، وبينما كان أولئك السُّوتا ينشدون، أخذ ضاربو الكفّين يضبطون الإيقاع؛ يروون مآثر الملك المشهودة ويُسمِعون تصفيقهم المنتظم.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-निर्देशक (then/thereupon)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/and then)

• स्तुवताम्: of those praising
• स्तुवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) → स्तुवत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; सूतानाम् इति विशेषणम्

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• सूतानाम्: of the bards
• सूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• पाणिवादकाः: hand-clappers
• पाणिवादकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि + वादक (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• अपदानानि: deeds/episodes
• अपदानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• उदाहृत्य: having cited
• उदाहृत्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + आ + हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत्य (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): having cited/mentioned

• पाणिवादाः: hand-claps
• पाणिवादाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि + वाद (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (negation particle)

• अवादयन्: made resound/clapped
• अवादयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + वद् (धातु) → अवादय (णिच्) (तिङन्त)
• Form: लङ्-लकार; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: made sound/played)

Context

While the bards sang the praise of the king, those who praise clapping their palms clapped, citing the wonderful deeds of Dasaratha.

Characters & Entities

• sūta (bards/panegyrists)
• rājā (Daśaratha, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by remembrance of worthy deeds: public recitation of a ruler’s apadāna functions as moral education and social validation of righteous kingship.

What is the narrative situation?

Court performers accompany bardic praise with rhythmic clapping, recounting notable deeds in a celebratory palace setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gratitude and civic admiration—preserving a ruler’s reputation through collective performance and recollection.