Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 6

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

न त्वेवानागते काले देहाच्च्यवति जीवितम्।कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर्मम न विद्यते।।2.39.5।।योऽहं पावकसङ्काशं पश्यामि पुरतः स्थितम्।विहाय वसने सूक्ष्मे तापसाच्छादमात्मजम्।।2.39.6।।

Transliteration

yo 'haṃ pāvaka-saṅkāśaṃ paśyāmi purataḥ sthitam | vihāya vasane sūkṣme tāpasācchādam ātmajam || 2.39.6 ||

Translation

আমি আমার পুত্রকে সামনে দাঁড়িয়ে দেখতে পাচ্ছি—অগ্নির ন্যায় দীপ্তিমান—যিনি সূক্ষ্ম বস্ত্র ত্যাগ করে তাপসের আচ্ছাদন ধারণ করেছেন; তবু আমার প্রাণান্ত হয় না।

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पावकसङ्काशम्: fire-like
• पावकसङ्काशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: पावकस्य सङ्काशः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• पुरतः: before (me)
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘in front/before’)

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘standing’

• विहाय: having cast off
• विहाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having abandoned/removed’

• वसने: in garments (two)
• वसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सूक्ष्मे: fine
• सूक्ष्मे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of वसने)

• तापसाच्छादम्: clad in ascetic covering
• तापसाच्छादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक) + आच्छाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तापसस्य आच्छादः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: आत्मनः जः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

'In the past I must have separated many from their children or harmed many living beings. That is why I think this calamity has befallen me.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma as renunciation and obedience to truth-bound duty: Rāma’s adoption of ascetic garb embodies commitment to a righteous promise, even when it causes personal and familial anguish.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha witnesses Rāma preparing for exile—removing royal clothes and donning ascetic attire—intensifying the king’s grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness and sacrificial obedience; Daśaratha’s helpless sorrow in the face of that righteous resolve.