Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 18

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

दिष्ट्या खलु महाराजो महिष्या प्रियया सह।सुमन्त्रं प्राहिणोद्दूतमर्थकामकरं मम।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.18

Transliteration

diṣṭyā khalu mahārājo mahiṣyā priyayā saha |

sumantraṃ prāhiṇod dūtam arthakāmakaraṃ mama || 2.16.18 ||

Translation

¡Dichosos en verdad! El gran rey, junto con su amada reina, ha enviado a Sumantra como mensajero, quien promueve mi bienestar y mis justos deseos.

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Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• प्रहृष्टा: delighted
• प्रहृष्टा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√hṛṣ (हृष् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (क्त) state adjective, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• महाराजम्: the great king
• महाराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘mahān rājā’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object with ‘anuvartinī’ (following)

• हितकामा-अनुवर्तिनी: following (him), wishing (my) good
• हितकामा-अनुवर्तिनी: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita + kāma + anuvartinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: ‘hitaṃ kāmayate’ + ‘anuvartinī’ (one who follows); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘sā/jananī’

• जननी: mother
• जननी: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• च: also
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• अर्थकामा: seeking my welfare
• अर्थकामा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘arthaṃ kāmayate’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘jananī’

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; enclitic form

• केकय-अधिपतेः: of the lord of Kekaya
• केकय-अधिपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kekaya + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘kekayānām adhipatiḥ’; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to ‘jananī’

Context

It is our fortune that the king and his dear queen have sent Sumantra as messenger who is interested in my prosperity and pleasure.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Dasharatha
• Kaikeyi
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

It suggests that artha and kāma are rightful when aligned with dharma—Rāma views the royal summons as a legitimate, auspicious step toward responsible rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma interprets Sumantra’s arrival as a favourable sign that the king and queen are moving forward with plans for his consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s optimism grounded in duty, and Sumantra’s reliability as a trusted royal emissary.