Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 30

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

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

Devanagari script

रुदन्नार्तः प्रियं पुत्रं सत्यपाशेन संयतः।कैकेय्या चोद्यमानस्तु मिथो राजा तमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

rudann ārtaḥ priyaṃ putraṃ satyapāśena saṃyataḥ |

kaikeyyā codyamānas tu mitho rājā tam abravīt ||

Translation

Weinend vor Schmerz sprach der König—vom Strick der Wahrheit gebunden und von Kaikeyī gedrängt—in einem schweren Wortwechsel zu jenem geliebten Sohn.

Word by Word

• rudan: wailing
• rudan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु) > rudant (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/śatṛ), masculine nominative singular; qualifying rājā

• ārtaḥ: distressed
• ārtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; qualifying rājā

• priyam: beloved
• priyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, accusative (द्वितीया) singular; qualifying putram

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, accusative (द्वितीया) singular

• satyapāśena: by the cord/bond of truth
• satyapāśena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya-pāśa (प्रातिपदिक; satya + pāśa)
• Form: Masculine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular; tatpuruṣa compound

• saṃyataḥ: bound, restrained
• saṃyataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√yam (धातु) > saṃyata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), masculine nominative singular; qualifying rājā

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, instrumental (तृतीया) singular

• codyamānaḥ: being urged/instigated
• codyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cud (धातु) > codyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/śānac), masculine nominative singular; qualifying rājā

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• mithas: mutually / in private talk
• mithas: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mithas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (परस्पर/reciprocally)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, accusative (द्वितीया) singular; refers to Rāma

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular

Context

The king who was bound by the cord of truth and instigated by Kaikeyi said, wailing in distress:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (rājā)
• Rāma (beloved son)
• Kaikeyī
• satya (truth)

FAQs

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

Truth functions as a binding moral force: once a promise is given, dharma constrains the king—even when the outcome causes personal suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, pressured by Kaikeyī and bound to his pledged boons, addresses Rāma while grieving.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s adherence to satya (truthfulness), portrayed as both virtue and burden.