Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 10

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

शत्रुघ्नश्च तदाज्ञाय वचनं भृशदुःखितः।अन्तःपुरचरान्सर्वानित्युवाच धृत व्रतः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.10

Transliteration

śatrughnaś ca tad ājñāya vacanaṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ | antaḥpuracarān sarvān ity uvāca dhṛtavrataḥ ||

Translation

Als Śatrughna jene Worte vernahm, von tiefem Schmerz ergriffen und fest in seinem Gelübde, wandte er sich an alle Diener der inneren Palastgemächer:

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Word by Word

• शत्रुघ्नः: Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• च: also/and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); वचनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणवत् (that)

• आज्ञाय: having learned/known
• आज्ञाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive/gerund) अव्ययभाव

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• भृशदुःखितः: deeply distressed
• भृशदुःखितः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); कर्मधारय: भृशं दुःखितः (deeply grieved)

• अन्तःपुरचरान्: those in the inner apartments
• अन्तःपुरचरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुरचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural); समास: अन्तःपुरे चराः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural); अन्तःपुरचरान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect)

• धृतव्रतः: steadfast in vows
• धृतव्रतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); बहुव्रीहि: धृतं व्रतं यस्य सः

Context

Intensely grieved to hear those words, Satrughna who was steadfast in his vows said to the inmates of the inner apartment:

Characters & Entities

• Śatrughna
• antaḥpura (inner palace quarters)

FAQs

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

The verse sets up the tension between righteous restraint and emotional upheaval: even a vow-bound person can be shaken by adharma, yet speech and action should ideally remain governed by dharma rather than grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatrughna hears distressing news and immediately turns to the inner-palace attendants, initiating the confrontation that follows in the palace quarters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhṛtavrata—steadfastness and firmness of resolve—showing Śatrughna as principled and decisive, even while grieving.