Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 1

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

महामात्रवचः श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथं तदा।अभ्यभाषत वाक्यं तु विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।2.37.1।।

Transliteration

mahāmātravacaḥ śrutvā rāmo daśarathaṃ tadā | abhyabhāṣata vākyaṃ tu vinayajño vinītavat ||

Translation

Al oír las palabras del ministro, Rāma, conocedor del decoro, se dirigió entonces a Daśaratha con habla humilde y respetuosa.

Word by Word

• mahāmātravacaḥ: the minister’s words
• mahāmātravacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mātra-vacas (महामात्रवचस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (mahāmātra + vacas)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerund)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• daśaratham: Dasaratha
• daśaratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (दशरथ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• abhyabhāṣata: addressed/spoke to
• abhyabhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (भाष् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग ‘abhi-’

• vākyam: a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• vinayajñaḥ: knowing propriety
• vinayajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya-jña (विनयज्ञ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vinaya + jña) विशेषणम् (of Rāma)

• vinītavat: humbly
• vinītavat: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinīta-vat (विनीतवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial) ‘like a humble person’

Context

On hearing the minister, Rama who knew how to be polite spoke these words to Dasaratha humbly:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as disciplined speech and respectful conduct toward elders—truth and duty are to be communicated with humility (vinaya).

What is the narrative situation?

After ministerial statements in the courtly setting, Rāma prepares to respond to his father Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and maryādā (decorum) in speech, especially in a crisis.