Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 122, Shloka 18

दशरथदर्शनम् — Dasharatha’s Epiphany and Benedictions

Sarga 122

Devanagari script

इदानीं च विजानामियथासौम्य सुरेश्वरैः ।वधार्थंरावणस्येहविहितंपुरुषोत्तम ।।।।

Transliteration

idānīṃ ca vijānāmi yathā saumya sureśvaraiḥ | vadhārthaṃ rāvaṇasyeha vihitaṃ puruṣottama ||

Translation

Ce n’est que maintenant que je comprends, ô doux ami : les seigneurs des dieux t’ont établi ici pour mettre à mort Rāvaṇa—ô le meilleur des hommes.

Word by Word

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: now)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• vijānāmi: I understand
• vijānāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √ज्ञा with उपसर्ग vi-

• yathā: how / that
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/यथार्थवाचक-अव्यय ("how/that") introducing clause

• saumya: O gentle one
• saumya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• sureśvaraiḥ: by the lords of the gods
• sureśvaraiḥ: Karana (करण/agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ष_toggle: सुराणाम् ईश्वराः = lords of gods); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• vadhārtham: for the killing
• vadhārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वधस्य अर्थः = purpose of killing); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकभाव, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• rāvaṇasya: of Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here)

• vihitam: ordained, arranged
• vihitam: Kriya (क्रियासमान/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), √धा with उपसर्ग vi-; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate with implied 'it is ordained'

• puruṣottama: O best of men
• puruṣottama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (उत्तमः पुरुषः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

"O gentle son! I did not know that the ruler of gods had sent you for the destruction of Ravana, O excellent one."

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Sureśvara (lords of the gods)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as protection of cosmic and social order: the destruction of Rāvaṇa is presented as an ordained act to restore righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, after witnessing outcomes, recognizes Rāma’s role as divinely appointed for Rāvaṇa’s destruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as puruṣottama—ideal human excellence expressed through dutiful action aligned with truth and divine order.