Valmiki Ramayana 2.58.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 4

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

राजा तु रजसा सूतं ध्वस्ताङ्गं समुपस्थितम्।अश्रुपूर्णमुखं दीनमुवाच परमार्तवत्।।।।

Transliteration

rājā tu rajasā sūtaṃ dhvastāṅgaṃ samupasthitam |

aśrupūrṇamukhaṃ dīnam uvāca paramārtavat ||

Translation

ধূলিধূসর দেহ, অশ্রুপূর্ণ মুখে দীনভাবে নিকটে দাঁড়ানো সূতকে দেখে রাজা পরম আর্তিতে তাকে বললেন।

Word by Word

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta/particle (emphatic/contrastive)

• rajasā: with dust
• rajasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sūtam: the charioteer
• sūtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• dhvasta-aṅgam: with body dishevelled/covered (in dust)
• dhvasta-aṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvasta (कृदन्त/PPP of √dhvaṃs) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: karmadhāraya; Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sūtam (agreeing in case/number)

• samupasthitam: standing near/come up
• samupasthitam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-upa-√sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (PPP), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sūtam

• aśru-pūrṇa-mukham: with face full of tears
• aśru-pūrṇa-mukham: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (कृदन्त/PPP of √pṝ) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (aśrubhiḥ pūrṇaṃ mukhaṃ yasya/whose face is full of tears); Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sūtam

• dīnam: dejected
• dīnam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sūtam

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• parama-ārtavat: as if extremely afflicted
• parama-ārtavat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial usage of -vat: ‘like/as’); manner-adverb qualifying uvāca

Context

'I do not regard the great king as my father. Rama alone is my brother, protector, friend and father.

Characters & Entities

• Dasharatha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

The verse frames royal responsibility through emotional truth: a king must confront the consequences of decisions affecting dharma and family, not hide behind authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra has returned after accompanying Rama, and Dasharatha—shattered by separation—addresses him in grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dasharatha’s human vulnerability and honesty of emotion, revealing the moral weight borne by a ruler.