Shloka 2.57.5

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

तत स्सायाह्न समये तृतीयेऽहनि सारथिः।अयोध्यां समनुप्राप्य निरानन्दां ददर्श ह।।।।

Transliteration

sa śūnyām iva niḥśabdāṁ dṛṣṭvā paramadurmanāḥ |

sumantraś cintayāmāsa śoka-vega-samāhataḥ ||

Translation

Seeing the city as though empty and silent, Sumantra—deeply dejected and struck by a surge of grief—fell into anxious reflection.

Context

The charioteer reached Ayodhya on the third day at dusk and found the city cheerless.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes emotional integrity: grief is not denied or suppressed, yet one must still think clearly and act responsibly within sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra enters a strangely quiet Ayodhyā and realizes the depth of public mourning after Rāma’s departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscientiousness and empathy: Sumantra is sensitive to the city’s suffering and reflects on what it means.