Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 24

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

अपि जीवेद्दशरथो वनवासात्पुनर्वयम्।प्रत्यागम्य महात्मानमपि पश्येम सुव्रतम्।।।।

Transliteration

api jīved daśaratho vanavāsāt punar vayam | pratyāgamya mahātmānam api paśyema suvratam ||

Translation

Daśaratha vivrait-il encore ? Et lorsque nous reviendrons de l’exil dans la forêt, pourrons-nous revoir ce roi à la grande âme, inébranlable dans ses vœux ?

Word by Word

• परिदेवयमानस्य: of the lamenting one
• परिदेवयमानस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-dev (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular, Masculine; 'of (him) lamenting'

• दुःखार्तस्य: of the grief-stricken
• दुःखार्तस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दुःखेन आर्तः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (prince)
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + आत्मन् (कर्मधारय); Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तिष्ठतः: of (him) standing
• तिष्ठतः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), Genitive, Singular, Masculine; 'of (him) standing'

• राजपुत्रस्य: of the prince
• राजपुत्रस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: राज्ञः पुत्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शर्वरी: night
• शर्वरी: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सा: that
• सा: कर्ता (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अत्यवर्तत: passed away
• अत्यवर्तत: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, 3rd Person, Singular

Context

Will the king be still alive? Will we see the noble king again on our return from exile after the fulfilment of his vows?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• forest exile (vanavāsa)

FAQs

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

Fidelity to vows (satya and vrata): even exile is framed as a dharmic commitment whose completion is hoped to reunite family without breaking truth.

What is the narrative situation?

As exile begins, the speaker anxiously wonders whether the aged king will survive until their return.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and steadfastness—enduring hardship to keep vows, while maintaining loving concern.