Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 61

रामलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of Rama and Lakshmana; Alliance Narrative to Sita

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा प्रायोपविष्टांश्च सर्वान्वानरपुङ्गवान्।भृशं शोकार्णवे मग्नः पर्यदेवयदङ्गदः।।5.35.60।।तव नाशं च वैदेहि वालिनश्च वधं तथा।प्रायोपवेशमस्माकं मरणं च जटायुषः।।5.35.61।।

Transliteration

tava nāśaṃ ca vaidehi vālinas ca vadhaṃ tathā | prāyopaveśam asmākaṃ maraṇaṃ ca jaṭāyuṣaḥ ||5.35.61||

Translation

„O Vaidehī: dein Verschwinden, Vālis Tod, unser eigener Entschluss, durch Fasten zu sterben, und Jaṭāyus Tod“—dies waren die Gründe, die Aṅgadas Klage entfachten.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-रूप (here: चतुर्थी-दत्तिवे ‘to us’), बहुवचन

• स्वामिसन्देशात्: from the master's message/command
• स्वामिसन्देशात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामि-सन्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—स्वामिनः सन्देशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• निराशानाम्: of the despairing
• निराशानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of the hopeless’

• मुमूर्षताम्: of those desiring to die
• मुमूर्षताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: सन्-प्रत्यय (desiderative) धातु ‘मुमूर्ष्’; शतृ/शानच्-भावे षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of those wishing to die’

• कार्यहेतोः: for the purpose of the task
• कार्यहेतोः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (idiomatically ‘for the sake of’); समासः—कार्यस्य हेतुḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• आयातः: came
• आयातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘came’

• शकुनिः: a bird (omen-bird)
• शकुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वीर्यवान्: powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• महान्: great/huge
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"When we were disappointed (in tracing you) and were at the point of death having been commanded by the king (that whosoever overstays would be killed) a gigantic powerful bird appeared to fulfil our task.

Characters & Entities

• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Vali
• Jatayu
• Angada

FAQs

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

The verse underscores truthful remembrance of causes and consequences: dharma requires facing reality (satya) rather than hiding it, so that right action can follow even amid grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman explains to Sita why the Vanaras fell into despair: Sita’s continued absence, past losses and battles (Vali’s death), and Jatayu’s death culminated in their decision to fast unto death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Honest accountability and loyalty to Rama’s mission—naming the true causes is part of restoring resolve and right action.