Valmiki Ramayana 2.58.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 23

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

अतिक्रान्तवया राजा मास्मैनं व्यवरोरुधः।कुमार राज्ये जीव त्वं तस्यैवाज्ञाप्रवर्तनात्।।।।

Transliteration

atikrāntavayā rājā mā smainaṃ vyavarorudhaḥ | kumāra rājye jīva tvaṃ tasyaivājñāpravartanāt ||

Translation

The king is advanced in years—do not obstruct him in any way. Live as prince-regent by carrying out his commands alone.

Word by Word

• atikrānta-vayāḥ: advanced in age
• atikrānta-vayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-krānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण to rājā; अर्थः = whose age has advanced

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• mā: do not
• mā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (prohibitive particle)

• sma: indeed (emphatic)
• sma: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), prohibitive emphasis with mā

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• vyavarorudhaḥ: (you) restrain/block
• vyavarorudhaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-rudh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative) with prohibitive mā (i.e., negative command), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; रूपम्: वरॊरुधः (2nd sg)

• kumāra: O prince
• kumāra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• rājye: in the kingdom
• rājye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• jīva: live
• jīva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• tasya: of him/that (king)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• ājñā-pravartanāt: by carrying out (his) command
• ājñā-pravartanāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + pravartana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; हेत्वर्थ (cause): ‘by/through carrying out the command’

Context

'The king is advanced in age. Do not restrict him in any manner. Carry out his orders as prince regent, and live happily'.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Respecting elders and lawful authority: even as regent, one must not override or constrain the aging king’s will.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma anticipates Bharata’s role in administration and warns him to govern without curbing Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience allied with restraint—power held in trust, not used to dominate.