Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 2

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चैव विवासा द्वासवोपमम्।आविवेशोपसर्गस्तं तम स्सूर्यमिवासुरम्।।2.63.2।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.63.2

Transliteration

rāmalakṣmaṇayoś caiva vivāsād vāsavopamam | āviveśopasargas taṃ tamas sūryam ivāsuram || 2.63.2 ||

Translation

Because Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were exiled, a great calamity seized Indra-like Daśaratha—like demonic darkness swallowing the sun at an eclipse.

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Word by Word

• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: of Rama and Lakshmana
• rāma-lakṣmaṇayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī/Dvitīyā? actually Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Dvi-vacana (Dual/द्विवचन); dvandva: 'of Rama and Lakshmana'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• vivāsāt: from the exile, due to banishment
• vivāsāt: Apādāna (Cause/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Eka-vacana

• vāsava-upamam: like Indra
• vāsava-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: 'comparable to Vāsava (Indra)'

• āviveśa: entered, took possession of
• āviveśa: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama puruṣa, Eka-vacana; Parasmaipada

• upasargaḥ: calamity, affliction
• upasargaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• sūryam: the sun
• sūryam: Upameya (Compared entity/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (Simile marker/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile marker

• asuram: demonic, asura-like
• asuram: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; used as adjective to sūryam: 'sun as (if) an asura'

Context

Having sucked the waters of the earth and scorching the world with its rays, the Sun had entered the frightful southern quarter ranged by departed souls.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Sun (Sūrya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through consequence: even a great king is overwhelmed when actions and obligations (especially vows and royal decisions) result in the suffering of the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes Daśaratha’s condition after Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are sent into exile—his mind is overtaken by calamity and darkness-like despair.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s dutiful acceptance of exile is implied as the cause of the king’s anguish, highlighting their steadfastness to dharma even when it brings personal pain to others.