Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 1

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

कथयित्वा सुदुःखार्तस्सुमन्त्रेण चिरं सह।रामे दक्षिणकूलस्थे जगाम स्वगृहं गुहः।।।।

Transliteration

kathayitvā suduḥkhārtaḥ sumantreṇa ciraṃ saha | rāme dakṣiṇa-kūla-sthe jagāma sva-gṛhaṃ guhaḥ ||

Translation

Nachdem er lange mit Sumantra gesprochen hatte, von tiefem Kummer gequält, kehrte Guha in sein eigenes Haus zurück, als Rāma das Südufer erreicht hatte.

Word by Word

• कथयित्वा: having spoken
• कथयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (कथय्-धातु/णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• सुदुःख-आर्तः: greatly distressed
• सुदुःख-आर्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + duḥkha + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुदुःखेन आर्तः)

• सुमन्त्रेण: with Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रेण: Saha (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), एकवचन

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण; कालवाचक (for a long time)

• सह: together with
• सह: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (with)

• रामे: when Rama (was)
• रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (when Rama was...)

• दक्षिण-कूल-स्थे: on the southern bank
• दक्षिण-कूल-स्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa + kūla + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणे कूले स्थितः)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्-धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्वगृहम्: to his own home
• स्वगृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य गृहम्)

• गुहः: Guha
• गुहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

Context

Until Rama reached the southern bank, Guha kept talking with Sumantra for long and returned home with great sorrow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Guha
• Sumantra
• Gaṅgā (implied by the crossing context)

FAQs

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

Loyalty and compassionate duty: Guha remains present and supportive until Rāma is safely across, showing dharmic friendship expressed through responsible care.

What is the narrative situation?

After assisting and accompanying the exiles, Guha converses with Sumantra and returns home only after Rāma has reached the far bank.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maitrī (steadfast friendship) and karuṇā (compassion): Guha’s sorrow underscores sincere attachment grounded in respect for Rāma’s righteousness.