Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 8
अष्टादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration
Setting: अयोध्या राजप्रासाद (दशरथ-समीप)Places named: अयोध्या
चिन्तयामास च तदा रामः पितृहिते रतः ।
किं स्विदद्यैव नृपतिर्न मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति ॥८॥
cintayāmāsa ca tadā rāmaḥ pitṛhite rataḥ |
kiṁ svid adyaiva nṛpatir na māṁ pratyabhinandati ||8||
Da sann Rāma, dem Wohl seines Vaters ergeben: „Warum erwidert der König heute meinen Gruß nicht?“
Sandhi Notes
- स्विदद्यैव = स्वित् + अद्य + एव
- नृपतिर्न = नृपतिः + न
- मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति = माम् + प्रत्यभिनन्दति (anusvāra sandhi)
Devoted to his father's wellbeing, Rama reflected, Why does not father reciprocate my greeting (like on other days)?
The teaching
कर्तव्यपरायणः पुत्रः पितुः मनोविकारं ज्ञातुम् इच्छति—सेवा प्रथमं, प्रश्नः ततः।
- Ethical theme
- Filial duty/care ethics
For your practice
सेवा-भाव, वृद्ध-पालन, संवेदनशील संवाद।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Inquiring, anxious, dutiful
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Maryada
- Filial duty
कर्तृत्व-भावेऽपि ‘पितृहिते रतः’—निष्काम-सेवा-आभासः; फल-अपेक्षा (अभिनन्दन) क्षीणं यदा, तदा चित्त-परिक्षा।
आचार्यवत् पितृवत्—गुरु-तुल्य-आदरः (धर्मसूत्र-भाव) इति पितृ-सम्बन्धे श्रद्धा।
वाल्मीकि-रामायण 2.18.41 (रामस्य पूर्वानुभव-स्मरण)
रामचरितमानस अयोध्याकाण्ड—राम का पितृभक्ति-भाव (सामान्य)
अयोध्याकाण्ड—राजाभिषेक-पूर्व-समागम-प्रकरण
अनुष्टुप् (श्लोक)
Narrative
मध्यम-स्वर, प्रश्न-उदात्त, अन्ते मृदु-न्यासः
FAQs
Dharma here is mindful service: Rāma reads relational signals and worries about his father’s well-being rather than focusing on his own honor.
Rāma notices an unusual coldness/silence from Daśaratha and tries to understand what has changed.
Considerate attentiveness (pitṛhita)—a son’s steady concern and emotional intelligence.
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