Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 9

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Setting: Borderlands of Kosala (departing)Places named: KosalaExile departure; crossing beyond Kosala

Devanagari script

एता वाचो मनुष्याणां ग्रामसंवासवासिनाम् ।

शृण्वन्नतिययौ वीरः कोसलान् कोसलेश्वरः ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.9

Transliteration

etā vāco manuṣyāṇāṃ grāmasaṃvāsavāsinām |

śṛṇvann atiyayau vīraḥ kosalān kosaleśvaraḥ ||9||

Translation

গ্রাম-গঞ্জে বসবাসকারী মানুষের এই কথাগুলি শুনতে শুনতে, সেই বীর কোসলেশ্বর কোসলের সীমানা অতিক্রম করে গেলেন।

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Word by Word

• एताः: these
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) वाचः
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)

• वाचः: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative); बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मनुष्याणाम्: of people
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• ग्रामसंवासवासिनाम्: of village-dwellers
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम + संवास + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (determinative): ग्रामसंवासे वासिनः (those dwelling in village-hamlet settlements)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शृण्वन्: listening
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; ‘शृण्वन्’ = while listening
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अतिययौ: crossed/overpassed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• वीरः: the hero
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेष्य (apposition) कोसलेश्वरः
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कोसलान्: Kosala (lands/borders)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन; देश/जनपदवाचक
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• कोसलेश्वरः: lord of Kosala
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोसल + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: कोसलस्य ईश्वरः (lord of Kosala)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• शृण्वन्नतिययौ → शृण्वन् + अतिययौ (न् + अ)
• ग्रामसंवासवासिनाम् समासः: ग्राम-सम्बद्धः संवासः, तत्र वासिनः

Context

Such were the words of people living in villages and hamlets that Rama the valiant lord of Kosala happened to hear as he was crossing the boundaries of Kosala.

The teaching

Listening to grief does not require abandoning duty; dharma may demand forward motion even when the heart is pulled back.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s duty to obey father’s command vs duty to respond to citizens’ pleas
• Personal sorrow vs steadfast adherence to dharma

Ethical theme

Svadharma / pitǥ-vākya-paripālana

How it resolves

Stoic adherence (continues journey despite lament)

For your practice

Japa/meditation on Rāma’s steadiness while moving through blame and praise; cultivating equanimity in transitions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Farewell, steadfast march, aching loyalty

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Exile (vanavāsa)
• Public lament
• Journey

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kosala

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown through endurance: Rāma proceeds with his duty despite hearing painful public criticism and grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is travelling into exile; as he leaves Kosala territory, he hears the villagers’ lamentations and condemnation behind him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness and courage (vīra) in continuing his path despite emotional turmoil.