Shloka 17

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

सा प्रहृष्टा महाराजं हितकामानुवर्तिनी।जननी चार्थकामा मे केकयाधिपतेस्सुता।।।।

Transliteration

sā prahṛṣṭā mahārājaṃ hitakāmānuvartinī |

jananī cārthakāmā me kekayādhipateḥ sutā || 2.16.17 ||

Translation

Meine Mutter—die Tochter des Königs von Kekaya—freut sich und folgt dem heilsamen Willen des großen Königs, mein Wohl zu suchen.

Word by Word

• लक्षयित्वा: having perceived
• लक्षयित्वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √lakṣ (लक्ष् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), avyaya

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; emphasis/causal nuance

• अभिप्रायम्: intention
• अभिप्रायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiprāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• प्रियकामा: desiring (his) welfare
• प्रियकामा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘priyasya kāmā’ (desiring what is dear/welfare); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of subject (Kaikeyī)

• सुदक्षिणा: very gracious/favoured
• सुदक्षिणा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘su-dakṣiṇā’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of subject

• सञ्चोदयति: urges
• सञ्चोदयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√cud (चुद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• मदर्थम्: for my purpose
• मदर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mad + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) ‘mad-artham’ = ‘for my sake’; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana used adverbially

• असितेक्षणा: dark-eyed
• असितेक्षणा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asita + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘asite īkṣaṇe yasyāḥ’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet of subject

Context

My mother, daughter of the king of Kekaya, knows the king's intention and, heppy to do me good, seeks my wellbeing.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Kaikeyi
• Dasharatha
• Kekaya (kingdom/king)

FAQs

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

It reflects the ideal expectation of kinship dharma: parents and elders should seek a child’s welfare, and family bonds are presumed to be rooted in beneficence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues explaining to Sītā that Kaikeyī, his stepmother, appears pleased and supportive of his advancement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s trustfulness and respectful view of elders, treating intentions as wholesome unless proven otherwise.