Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 17

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः · The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

एवमार्तप्रलापांस्तान् वृद्धान् प्रलपतो द्विजान् ।

अवेक्ष्य सहसा रामो रथादवततार ह ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.45.17

Transliteration

evam ārta-pralāpāṃs tān vृद्धān pralapato dvijān |

avekṣya sahasā rāmo rathād avatātāra ha ||17||

Translation

Als Rāma jene betagten Brahmanen so klagend und schmerzerfüllt jammern sah, stieg er sogleich vom Wagen herab.

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Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: 'thus')

• ārta-pralāpān: pitiful lamentations
• ārta-pralāpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārta + pralāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('pitiful' + 'lamentations'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• vṛddhān: aged
• vṛddhān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of dvijān

• pralapataḥ: lamenting, speaking
• pralapataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√lap (लप् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of dvijān

• dvijān: brahmins
• dvijān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• avekṣya: having seen
• avekṣya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल: 'having seen'

• sahasā: immediately
• sahasā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शीघ्रार्थ (adverb: 'suddenly/immediately')

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rathāt: from the chariot
• rathāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• avatatāra: alighted, descended
• avatatāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ha: indeed (narrative)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक (narrative particle)

Context

Having seen the aged brahmins muttering pitiful lamentations in this manner, Rama immediately alighted from the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• brahmins (dvija)
• chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as immediate compassion and respect: Rama does not ignore the suffering of elders and spiritual leaders.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmins are lamenting as Rama departs; Rama notices them and promptly gets down from the chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s empathy and humility—he responds physically and immediately to others’ distress.