Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 5

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Devanagari script

तं वर्धयित्वा राजानं पूर्वं सूतो जयाशिषा।भयविक्लबया वाचा मन्दया श्लक्ष्णमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.5

Transliteration

taṁ vardhayitvā rājānaṁ pūrvaṁ sūto jayāśiṣā |

bhayaviklabayā vācā mandayā ślakṣṇam abravīt ||

Translation

D’abord, le cocher salua le roi d’une bénédiction de victoire ; puis, tremblant de peur, il parla doucement, d’une voix faible et délicate.

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Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (king)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वर्धयित्वा: having greeted
• वर्धयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), causative sense ‘having greeted/paid respects’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: at first
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘first/at first’

• सूतः: the charioteer
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जय-आशिषा: with a victory-blessing
• जय-आशिषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘with a blessing of victory’)

• भय-विक्लबया: with a fear-trembling
• भय-विक्लबया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘trembling due to fear’), विशेषणम् (वाचा)

• वाचा: with (his) voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मन्दया: feeble
• मन्दया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाचा)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: gently
• श्लक्ष्णम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative) ‘gently’

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

As already said, I shall dwell in the forest for fourteen years with forest rangers, in obedience to your commands.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sūta

FAQs

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

Respectful speech toward authority, even when delivering difficult news—dharma expressed as propriety, restraint, and reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

A charioteer approaches King Daśaratha, offers a formal blessing, and prepares to speak under fear and pressure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and controlled speech (mṛdutā/ślakṣṇatā), showing disciplined communication in tense circumstances.