Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 18

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Devanagari script

तं रामोऽभ्यपतत् क्षिप्रं लक्ष्मणश्च महारथः।विसंज्ञमिव दुःखेन सशोकं नृपतिं तदा।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ rāmo 'bhyapatat kṣipraṃ lakṣmaṇaś ca mahārathaḥ |

visaṃjñam iva duḥkhena saśokaṃ nṛpatiṃ tadā ||

Translation

Da eilten Rama und Lakshmana, der große Wagenkämpfer, rasch zum König, der vom Kummer getroffen war, als wäre er ohne Bewusstsein.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhyapatat: ran up to
• abhyapatat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); with upasarga abhi- (अभि)

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• mahārathaḥ: great chariot-warrior
• mahārathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'great chariot-warrior'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• visaṃjñam: senseless
• visaṃjñam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-saṃjña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle of comparison (उपमावाचक)

• duḥkhena: through grief
• duḥkhena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• saśokam: grief-stricken
• saśokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (सह-समास): 'with grief'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• nṛpatim: the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'lord of men'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक)

Context

All on a sudden there arose from (the mouths of) a thousand women of the palace cries of 'alas, alas, Rama!' mingled with the tinkling sounds of their ornaments.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma as care for elders: regardless of impending hardship, Rama and Lakshmana respond immediately to the fallen king, modeling compassionate service to parents and rulers.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha has collapsed; Rama and Lakshmana rush to him at once.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s and Lakshmana’s attentiveness and compassion—swift action to protect and support the incapacitated king.