Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 16

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स राजमार्गमध्येन सुमन्त्रः पिहिताननः।यत्र राजा दशरथस्तदेवोपययौ गृहम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa rājamārgamadhyena sumantraḥ pihitānanaḥ |

yatra rājā daśarathas tad evopayayau gṛham ||

Translation

Sumantra, das Antlitz verhüllt, lenkte mitten auf der königlichen Heerstraße dahin und begab sich geradewegs in jenen Palast, in dem König Daśaratha weilte.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राज-मार्ग-मध्येन: through the middle of the royal road
• राज-मार्ग-मध्येन: Adhikarana/Path (अधिकरणम्/मार्गः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया 3), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘राजमार्गस्य मध्येन’ = through the middle of the royal road

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पिहित-आननः: with covered face
• पिहित-आननः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pihita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √pidhā/√pih) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः ‘पिहितम् आननं यस्य’ = whose face is covered

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, relative adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Adhikarana-sambandha (सम्बन्धः; in relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दशरथः: Dasharatha
• दशरथः: Adhikarana-sambandha (सम्बन्धः; apposition to rājā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; ‘that’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• एव: just; indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• उपययौ: went to; reached
• उपययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√yā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Context

Sumantra with his face muffled, drove along the highway straight to the palace of king Dasaratha.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā (implied)
• royal palace

FAQs

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

Dharma here is faithful service: Sumantra, despite grief and public scrutiny, proceeds directly to the king to report and fulfill his duty as a royal attendant.

What is the narrative situation?

After escorting Rāma away, Sumantra returns to Ayodhyā and heads straight for Daśaratha’s palace, concealing his face in sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty and responsibility (sevā-dharma): Sumantra prioritizes his obligation to the king even while personally distressed.