Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.34: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 34

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

तत स्समास्थाय रथं महारथःससारथिर्दाशरथिर्वनं ययौ।उदङ्मुखं तं तु रथं चकार सप्रयाणमाङ्गल्य निमित्तदर्शनात्।।2.46.34।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.34

Transliteration

tataḥ samāsthāya rathaṃ mahārathaḥ sasārathir dāśarathir vanaṃ yayau | udaṅmukhaṃ taṃ tu rathaṃ cakāra sa prayāṇa-māṅgalya-nimitta-darśanāt ||2.46.34||

Translation

তদনন্তর মহারথী দাশরথি সারথিসহ রথে আরোহণ করে বনের পথে যাত্রা করলেন। যাত্রার মঙ্গল-লক্ষণ দর্শনে সুমন্ত্র রথের মুখ উত্তরদিকে করলেন॥

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Word by Word

• prabhātāyām: at dawn / when it dawned
• prabhātāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhātā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; time-locative

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• śarvaryām: in the night
• śarvaryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular; time-locative

• paurāḥ: citizens
• paurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to paurāḥ

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) governing accusative

• śokopahata-niśceṣṭāḥ: stunned, struck by grief
• śokopahata-niśceṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-upahata-niśceṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies paurāḥ

• babhūvuḥ: became
• babhūvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• hata-cetasaḥ: dejected / bereft of sense
• hata-cetasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata-cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies paurāḥ

Context

As I reflect again and again on the benevolent nature of Bharata, there is no concern in me about my parents, O Lakshmana!

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Dasharathi)
• Sumantra
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as orderly, auspicious conduct (maryādā): even in exile, actions are performed with attentiveness to proper signs and disciplined procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

The party departs Ayodhyā; Sumantra turns the chariot northward, considering it auspicious for travel and consistent with the plan to misdirect citizens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive stewardship—Sumantra’s careful driving reflects responsible service and adherence to traditional norms regarding omens.