Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 12

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Setting: Ayodhya (Rama's residence/inner apartments)

Devanagari script

प्राञ्जलिस्सुमुखं दृष्ट्वा विहारशयनासने ।

राजपुत्रमुवाचेदं सुमन्त्रो राजसत्कृतः ॥१२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.12

Transliteration

prāñjaliḥ sumukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā vihāraśayanāsane |

rājaputram uvācedaṃ sumantro rājasatkṛtaḥ ||12||

Translation

Als er den Prinzen mit dem lieblichen Antlitz auf dem Lager ruhen sah, sprach Sumantra, vom König geehrt, mit gefalteten Händen diese Worte.

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Word by Word

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तपन्तम्: shining
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √tap (तप् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकर्तरि), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘tam’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-nipāta (उपमा-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative)

• आदित्यम्: the sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; upamāna
• Role: Upamāna (उपमान)

• उपपन्नम्: endowed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√pad (पद् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘tam’ (endowed/possessed)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• स्वतेजसा: by his own splendor
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; karaṇa/hetu (by/with his own radiance)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• ववन्दे: saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vand (वन्द् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• वरदम्: boon-giver
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘varaṃ dadāti’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘tam’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वन्दी: the panegyrist
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)

• विनयज्ञः: knower of propriety
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vinayaṃ jānāti’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘vandī’
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• विनीतवत्: humbly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinīta + vat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya in -vat (वत्) used adverbially; manner adverb
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)

Sandhi Notes

• tapantam iva ādityam = tapantamivādityam
• svatejasā = sva-tejasā

Context

On seeing Rama of charming countenance relaxing on a couch, Sumantra, honourable to the king (Dasaratha) said these words with folded palms.

The teaching

Royal communication is carried with humility and decorum; authority is approached through vinaya.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / sevaka-dharma

For your practice

Cultivates vinaya (humility) and mindful speech before elders/authority.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Courtly, reverent, quiet

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Respectful speech
• Royal protocol

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through respectful communication—approaching a superior with folded hands and appropriate address, reflecting disciplined conduct (ācāra).

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra prepares to deliver Daśaratha’s message and begins by addressing Rāma formally and respectfully.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s propriety and self-restraint in speech and posture (vinaya/ācāra).