Shloka 22

Devanagari script

आपृच्छे त्वां महाराज सर्वेषामीश्वरोऽसि नः।प्रस्थितं दण्डकारण्यं पश्य त्वं कुशलेन माम्।।।।

Transliteration

āpṛcche tvāṃ mahārāja sarveṣām īśvaro 'si naḥ |

prasthitaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ paśya tvaṃ kuśalena mām ||

Translation

Ich bitte dich um Erlaubnis, o großer König, denn du bist der Herr über uns alle. Ich breche in den Dandaka-Wald auf; blicke auf mich beim Aufbruch mit ruhigem, glückverheißendem Herzen.

Word by Word

• āpṛcche: I ask leave
• āpṛcche: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; meaning 'I take leave/ask permission'

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• mahā-rāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja(n) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular, Masculine

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• īśvaraḥ: lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asi: are
• asi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• naḥ: of us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (षष्ठी/6) Plural (बहुवचन) / enclitic; sense 'of us/our'

• prasthitam: departing
• prasthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter/Masculine Accusative Singular; here agreeing with implied 'mām' (me) in sense 'departing' (predicate/secondary)

• daṇḍaka-āraṇyam: Dandaka forest
• daṇḍaka-āraṇyam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक) + āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/proper-name compound; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• kuśalena: in well-being
• kuśalena: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; adverbial-instrumental meaning 'safely/well'

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

Context

O great king, I am asking leave of you, for you are lord of all of us. I am set to depart for the Dandaka forest. See me (off) in a cheerful mood.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daśaratha
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma as obedience to rightful authority and satya: Rama requests formal permission and proceeds toward exile without resentment, honoring the king’s position and the binding force of pledged truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama addresses Daśaratha after he revives, asking leave to depart for Daṇḍaka as the exile is about to begin.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s humility and steadfastness—he frames exile as a dutiful departure, not a personal grievance.