Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 36

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

एतावदभिनीतार्थमुक्त्वा स जननीं वचः।त्रयश्शतशतार्धाश्च ददर्शा वेक्ष्य मातरः।।2.39.36।।

Transliteration

etāvad abhinītārtham uktvā sa jananīṃ vacaḥ |

trayaś śataśatārdhāś ca dadarśāvekṣya mātaraḥ ||2.39.36||

Translation

Nachdem er zu seiner Mutter diese Worte gesprochen hatte, im Sinn verfeinert und im Umfang wohl bemessen, blickte er sodann zu den übrigen Müttern, dreihundertfünfzig an der Zahl.

Word by Word

• एतावत्: to this extent
• एतावत्: Parimana (परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: etāvat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक अव्यय (to this extent)

• अभिनीतार्थम्: with well-conveyed meaning
• अभिनीतार्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhinīta-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘अभिनीतः अर्थः यस्य’ (having well-conveyed meaning); वचः इति विशेषण

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having spoken’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जननीम्: mother
• जननीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वचस्-शब्द); ‘speech/words’

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्या

• शतशतार्धाः: three hundred and fifty (lit. three + two-hundred-and-fifty)
• शतशतार्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata-śata-ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यासमास) — ‘शतं शतं अर्धं च’ = 250; ‘त्रयः’ सह समासार्थे 350 (त्रयः शतशतार्धाः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आवेक्ष्य: having looked at
• आवेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√īkṣ (आ + ईक्ष् धातु) + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having looked at’

• मातरः: the mothers
• मातरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (मातॄन्/मातरः—वैदिक/आर्षरूपप्रयोगः); कर्म

Context

Speaking thus to his mother with highly polished words, he then turned his gaze at his other three hundred and fifty mothers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as impartial respect within the royal family: Rāma does not confine duty to one relationship but extends regard to all maternal figures in the household.

What is the narrative situation?

After consoling Kauśalyā, Rāma turns to address the other queens regarded as his mothers, who are also distressed by the impending exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s courtesy and inclusiveness—he honors all elders and caretakers, not only his birth-mother.