Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 21

एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः

Devanagari script

सूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वाचा परमदीनया ।

बाष्पोपहतया राजा तं सूतमिदमब्रवीत् ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.59.21

Transliteration

sūtasya vacanaṃ śrutvā vācā parama-dīnayā |

bāṣpopahatayā rājā taṃ sūtam idam abravīt ||21||

Translation

Als der König die Worte des Wagenlenkers hörte, sprach er, mit völlig gebrochener und von Tränen erstickter Stimme, diese Worte zu Sumantra.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• sūtasya: of the charioteer
• sūtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• vacanam: words / speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकालः/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); अर्थे: 'having heard'

• vācā: with a voice
• vācā: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• paramadīnayā: very dejected
• paramadīnayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्/Qualifier of vācā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'extremely dejected'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bāṣpa-upahatayā: choked with tears
• bāṣpa-upahatayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्/Qualifier of vācā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + upahata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'choked/struck by tears'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tam: that (him)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sūtam: to the charioteer
• sūtam: Karma (कर्म/Object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Context

At these words of the charioteer, the king in deep distress replied with a voice chokedwith tears:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma includes accountability: the king must face the truth of his actions and their consequences, even when emotionally overwhelming.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sumantra’s report, Daśaratha prepares to respond, overcome by grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s painful self-awareness—an opening toward repentance, though arising from tragedy.