Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Setting: Ayodhyā (palace interior)

Devanagari script

तथा विलपतस्तस्य परिभ्रमितचेतसः ॥१४॥

अस्तमभ्यगमत्सूर्यो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.14

Transliteration

tathā vilapatas tasya paribhramitacetasaḥ ||14||

astam abhyagamāt sūryo rajanī cābhyavartata |

Translation

Mientras así se lamentaba, con la mente trastornada, el sol se puso y la noche sobrevino.

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Word by Word

• tathā: thus; in that way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vilapataḥ: of (him) lamenting
• Type: Verb
• Root: vilap (वि + लप् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); masculine/neuter gen. sg. form; ‘of (him) lamenting’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• tasya: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• paribhramita-cetasaḥ: of one whose mind was bewildered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + bhram (भ्रम् धातु) + cetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi-like sense ‘whose mind is whirled’, but formally a tatpuruṣa with kr̥danta qualifier; agrees with tasya
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• astam: to setting; to the west
• Type: Noun
• Root: asta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘to setting (place)’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abhyagamat: went; approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) with abhi-
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• sūryaḥ: the sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rajanī: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• abhyavartata: came on; set in
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (वृत् धातु) with abhi-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• abhyagamat sūryaḥ = abhyagamat + sūryaḥ
• cābhyavartata = ca + abhyavartata

Context

While Dasaratha was thus lamenting with a distracted mind, the Sun set and night fell.

The teaching

Grief can eclipse discernment as surely as night follows day; kāla proceeds regardless of human power.

Ethical theme

Kāla/impermanence

For your practice

Mindfulness of kāla and observing emotions as passing states; suitable for contemplation at dusk.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Dizzying, darkening, lamenting

Themes

• Itihasa
• Pathos
• Dharma crisis
• Time symbolism
• Grief

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sun
• Night

FAQs

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

The verse frames a dharma-crisis through the movement of time: when duty and truth are under strain, inner turmoil can eclipse clarity, symbolized by day giving way to night.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha continues grieving; the narration marks the passage from day to night during his prolonged lament.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a human vulnerability: the king’s shaken composure under unbearable moral and emotional pressure.