Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 38

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

यदहं नोपचारेण ब्रूयां स्नेहादविक्लबः।भक्तिमानिति तत्तावद्वाक्यं त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि।।2.52.38।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.38

Transliteration

yad ahaṃ nopacāreṇa brūyāṃ snehād aviklabaḥ |

bhaktimān iti tat tāvad vākyaṃ tvaṃ kṣantum arhasi || 2.52.38 ||

Translation

જો હું સ્નેહવશ, નિર્ભય બની, ઉપચાર વિના તને અનૌપચારિક રીતે કંઈ કહું, તો તેને ભક્ત સેવકના વચન સમજી કૃપા કરીને ક્ષમા કરજે.

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Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb: 'how?')

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (indeed/for)

• त्वद्विहीनः: bereft of you
• त्वद्विहीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvad + vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ('deprived of you')

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतियास्यामि: shall return
• प्रतियास्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + yā (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पुरीम्)

• पुरीम्: city (Ayodhya)
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तावत्: so much
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/सीमावाचक (just so much/for now)

• वियोगेन: by separation
• वियोगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्रशोकाकुलाम्: distressed with grief for a son
• पुत्रशोकाकुलाम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra + śoka + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ('distressed by grief for a son')

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (comparative particle: 'like/as')

Context

I beg your pardon for what I have told you out of love. Accept it as the words of a devotee expressed without fear or formality.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma of speech combines truth with humility: one may speak frankly out of love, yet must acknowledge boundaries and seek pardon for any breach of formality.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra begins his reply to Rama, apologizing in advance for speaking with intimate candor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and devotion—Sumantra frames his frankness as service, not presumption.