Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 25

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अभिगम्य तमासीनं नरेन्द्रे मभिवाद्य च।सुमन्त्रो रामवचनं यथोक्तं प्रत्यवेदयत्।।।।

Transliteration

abhigamya tam āsīnaṃ narendram abhivādya ca | sumantro rāmavacanaṃ yathoktaṃ pratyavedayat ||

Translation

Als Sumantra sich dem sitzenden König näherte, erwies er ihm ehrfürchtig seine Huldigung und berichtete sodann Rāmas Botschaft genau, wie sie gesprochen worden war.

Word by Word

• अभिगम्य: having approached
• अभिगम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; having approached

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun referring to king

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘तम्’

• नरेन्द्रम्: the lord of men (king)
• नरेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: नराणाम् इन्द्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘तम्’

• अभिवाद्य: having paid obeisance
• अभिवाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; having saluted

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• रामवचनम्: Rama’s message
• रामवचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: रामस्य वचनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of ‘pratyavedayat’

• यथोक्तम्: as spoken, verbatim
• यथोक्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + उक्त (वच् धातु)
• Form: अव्ययभावे नपुंसक-एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण ‘as said/verbatim’

• प्रत्यवेदयत्: conveyed
• प्रत्यवेदयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अव + विद्/वेदय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; he reported/conveyed

Context

Sumantra approached the king who was seated, paid obeisance to him and conveyed Rama's words verbatim.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• Dasharatha (narendra)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) in communication: Sumantra conveys Rama’s words yathoktam—without distortion—showing integrity and faithful service.

What is the narrative situation?

After meeting Rama during the exile episode, Sumantra returns to Ayodhya and delivers Rama’s message to King Dasharatha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s loyalty and conscientiousness as a messenger—accurate reporting and respectful conduct toward the king.