Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 17

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

धिक्कष्टमिति निःश्वस्य राजा शोकपरिप्लुतः।मूर्छितो न्यपतत्तस्मिन्पर्यङ्के हेमभूषिते।।2.19.17।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.19.17

Transliteration

dhik kaṣṭam iti niḥśvasya rājā śokapariplutaḥ |

mūrchito nyapatat tasmin paryaṅke hemabhūṣite || 2.19.17 ||

Translation

Seufzend: „Weh—welch Unheil!“, sank der König, von Kummer überflutet, in Ohnmacht und fiel zurück auf jene goldgeschmückte Lagerstatt.

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Word by Word

• धिक्: fie!
• धिक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक निपात (interjection)

• कष्टम्: calamity; misery
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/उद्गारविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (thus)

• निःश्वस्य: sighing
• निःश्वस्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निः-श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), ‘having sighed’

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शोकपरिप्लुतः: overwhelmed with sorrow
• शोकपरिप्लुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + परि + प्लुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शोकेन परिप्लुतः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः)

• मूर्छितः: having fainted
• मूर्छितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मूर्छ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘fainted’

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्मिन्: on that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पर्यङ्के: on the couch
• पर्यङ्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेमभूषिते: adorned with gold
• हेमभूषिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः हेमेन भूषितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः)

Context

'Fie, what a calamity!' sighing thus, the king, overwhelmed with sorrow, fainted and fell back on the golden couch.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (king)

FAQs

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

The verse shows the human cost when dharma (a pledged promise) collides with parental love—ethical life can demand painful consequences even for a righteous king.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, unable to bear the outcome of the boons and Rāma’s exile, collapses in grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but vulnerability: Daśaratha’s intense sorrow underscores the gravity of truth-bound obligations.