Shloka 2.58.1

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58) — Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

प्रत्याश्वस्तो यदा राजा मोहात्प्रत्यागतं पुनः।अथाऽजुहाव तं सूतं रामवृत्तान्तकारणात्।।।।

Transliteration

pratyāśvasto yadā rājā mohāt pratyāgataṁ punaḥ |

athājuhāva taṁ sūtaṁ rāma-vṛttānta-kāraṇāt ||

Translation

When the king recovered from his deluded faint and regained himself, he summoned that charioteer in order to learn the true account of Rāma.

Context

When the king regained his consciousness and was consoled, he summoned the charioteer to hear news about Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is central: the king seeks an accurate account of Rāma, showing that right action must be grounded in truthful information, even amid grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha regains consciousness after collapsing in sorrow and calls Sumantra to hear what happened to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in leadership: Daśaratha, though broken, tries to understand events clearly by summoning the direct witness.