Shloka 2.57.6

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

Devanagari script

स शून्यामिव निश्शब्दां दृष्ट्वा परमदुर्मनाः।सुमन्त्रश्चिन्तयामास शोकवेगसमाहतः।।।।

Transliteration

kaccin na sagajā sāśvā sajanā sajanādhipā |

rāma-santāpa-duḥkhena dagdhā śokāgninā purī ||

Translation

“Surely this city has not been burned by the fire of sorrow—by the pain of Rāma’s suffering—together with its elephants and horses, its people, and its lord?”

Context

Beholding the silent city, almost empty, the deeply depressed Sumantra, afflicted with gushing tears reflected:

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Ayodhyā
• King (Daśaratha, implied)

FAQs

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

A ruler and city are bound together by dharma: when the righteous heir suffers, the polity suffers too—dharma is not merely personal, it is social.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra, seeing the eerie silence, fears Ayodhyā may have collapsed under grief for Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate concern: Sumantra worries not only for the royal family but for the whole city and its well-being.