Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 3

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

अनुज्ञातस्सुमन्त्रोऽथ योजयित्वा हयोत्तमान्।अयोध्यामेव नगरीं प्रययौ गाढदुर्मनाः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.57.3

Transliteration

anujñātaḥ sumantro ’tha yojayitvā hayottamān | ayodhyām eva nagarīṃ prayayau gāḍhadurmanāḥ ||

Translation

অনুমতি পেয়ে সুমন্ত্র শ্রেষ্ঠ অশ্বগুলি জুড়ে দিলেন এবং গভীর শোকে ভারাক্রান্ত হৃদয়ে অযোধ্যা নগরীর দিকেই যাত্রা করলেন।

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Word by Word

• अनुज्ञातः: permitted
• अनुज्ञातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + jñā (ज्ञा-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्तृविशेषण (having been permitted)

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/after that)

• योजयित्वा: having harnessed
• योजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (युज्-धातु, णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having yoked/harnessed)

• हय-उत्तमान्: the best horses
• हय-उत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तमाः हयाः)

• अयोध्याम्: to Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/गति), एकवचन

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अयोध्याम् इति विशेष्यस्य अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• प्रययौ: set out / went
• प्रययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + yā (या-धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• गाढ-दुर्मनाः: deeply dejected
• गाढ-दुर्मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāḍha + durmanas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (गाढं दुर्मनाः)

Context

Permitted by Rama to leave, Sumantra harnessed the best of horses and set out for the city of Ayodhya with a heavy heart.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Ayodhya
• Horses (hayottamāḥ)
• Rama (permission implied by context)

FAQs

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

Duty performed despite personal pain: Sumantra obeys instructions and completes his service, even while grieving.

What is the narrative situation?

After leaving Rama in the forest, Sumantra prepares the chariot and returns to Ayodhya to report what happened.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s steadfast responsibility and loyalty as a royal servant.