Valmiki Ramayana 2.33.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 10

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Devanagari script

अद्य नूनं दशरथस्सत्त्वमाविश्य भाषते।न हि राजा प्रियं पुत्रं विवासयितुमर्हति।।।।

Transliteration

adya nūnaṃ daśarathaḥ sattvam āviśya bhāṣate | na hi rājā priyaṃ putraṃ vivāsayitum arhati ||

Translation

Gewiss, heute spricht Daśaratha, als wäre er von einer finsteren Macht ergriffen; denn einem König ziemt es nicht, den eigenen geliebten Sohn zu verbannen.

Word by Word

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (time adverb)

• nūnam: surely
• nūnam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय)
• Form: Niścaya-avyaya (particle of certainty)

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sattvam: a spirit/being (here: evil influence)
• sattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• āviśya: having possessed (him)
• āviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√viś (आविश्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त): 'having entered/possessed'

• bhāṣate: speaks
• bhāṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhāṣ (भाष्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle; emphasis/for)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• priyam: beloved
• priyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying putram

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vivāsayitum: to banish
• vivāsayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vas (वि-वस्) + ṇic (णिच् causative) + tumun
• Form: Causative infinitive (णिजन्त-तुमुनन्त): 'to cause to dwell away' = banish

• arhati: is fit/ought
• arhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

Surely king Dasaratha possessed of an evil spirit spoke the way he did today. Otherwise, should a king banish his beloved son?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• king (rājā)

FAQs

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

It appeals to rāja-dharma: a ruler must protect and uphold justice, not act in a way that destroys the rightful order—especially against a virtuous heir.

What is the narrative situation?

The people react with disbelief and anguish at Daśaratha’s decision to send Rāma into exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ moral clarity and loyalty to righteousness: they recognize Rāma’s worth and judge the banishment as ethically unfit.