Valmiki Ramayana 2.83.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः · Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

मेघश्यामं महाबाहुं स्थिरसत्त्वं दृढव्रतम् ।

कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे रामं जगत श्शोकनाशनम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.83.8

Transliteration

meghaśyāmaṃ mahābāhuṃ sthirasattvaṃ dṛḍhavratam |

kadā drakṣyāmahe rāmaṃ jagataḥ śokanāśanam ||8||

Translation

Wann werden wir Rāma erblicken—dunkel wie eine Regenwolke, von mächtigen Armen, standhaft im Geist, fest in seinen Gelübden—ihn, der den Kummer der Welt vernichtet?

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Word by Word

• megha-śyāmam: dark like a cloud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'cloud-dark'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• mahā-bāhum: mighty-armed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'great-armed'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• sthira-sattvam: steadfast in spirit
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'firm-natured/steadfast'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• dṛḍha-vratam: steadfast in vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'firm in vows'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• kadā: when?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नाव्यय)
• Role: Kāla (काल/प्रश्न)

• drakṣyāmahe: shall we see
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāmam: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• jagataḥ: of the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• śoka-nāśanam: destroyer of sorrow
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'destroyer of sorrow'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• मेघश्यामं = megha-śyāmam
• महाबाहुं = mahā-bāhum
• स्थिरसत्त्वं = sthira-sattvam
• दृढव्रतम् = dṛḍha-vratam

Context

When shall we see that mighty-armed Rama of dark-blue complexion like the rain-cloud, firm in strength and steadfast in vows and the destroyer of the sorrows of this world?

The teaching

Steadfastness in vow and character (dṛḍha-vrata, sthira-sattva) becomes a refuge for others; remembrance/vision of the righteous alleviates collective grief.

Ethical theme

Sadācāra (exemplary conduct)

Devotion and practice

Smaraṇa/darśana-bhāvanā: meditating on Rāma’s form and virtues as an antidote to sorrow.

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mantra

"मेघश्यामं ... रामं जगतश्शोकनाशनम्"

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Yearning, consolatory, devout

Themes

• Dharma
• Ideal kingship
• Virtue praise (guṇa-kīrtana)
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma as embodied ideal: the verse frames Rāma’s steadfast vows and inner stability as a remedy for societal suffering, implying that righteous character has public, healing power.

What is the narrative situation?

As they travel, people express longing to see Rāma again, describing his appearance and virtues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in vows (dṛḍha-vrata) and calm strength (sthira-sattva), portraying Rāma as a moral anchor for the world.