Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 17

अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः

Kausalyā consoles Daśaratha; grief, remorse, and nightfall

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञा श्श्रुतिमन्तोऽपि छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयाः।यतयो वीर मुह्यन्ति शोकसम्मूढचेतसः।।।।

Transliteration

dharmajñāḥ śrutimanto 'pi chinna-dharmārtha-saṃśayāḥ | yatayo vīra muhyanti śoka-sammūḍha-cetasaḥ ||

Translation

હે વીર, ધર્મજ્ઞ અને શ્રુતિશાસ્ત્રમાં નિપુણ, ધર્મ તથા અર્થ વિષયક સંશયો છિન્ન થયેલા યતિઓ પણ—શોકથી ચિત્ત મોહીત થતાં—ભ્રમિત થઈ જાય છે.

Word by Word

• dharma-jñāḥ: knowers of dharma
• dharma-jñāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: dharma-jña ('knower of dharma')

• śruti-mantaḥ: learned, possessing sacred learning
• śruti-mantaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + mant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; tatpuruṣa: śruti-mant ('possessing learning/śruti')

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (concessive)

• chinna-dharma-artha-saṅśayāḥ: free from doubts about dharma and artha
• chinna-dharma-artha-saṅśayāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (कृदन्त; √chid + kta) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'whose doubts (saṅśaya) about dharma and artha are cut off (chinna)'

• yatayaḥ: ascetics
• yatayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana vibhakti (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Eka-vacana

• muhyanti: become deluded
• muhyanti: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahu-vacana; Parasmaipada

• śoka-sammūḍha-cetasaḥ: whose minds are overwhelmed by grief
• śoka-sammūḍha-cetasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + sammūḍha (कृदन्त; sam-√muh + kta) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; bahuvrīhi: 'those whose minds (cetas) are completely bewildered (sammūḍha) by grief (śoka)'

Context

While Kausalya was speaking these heart-touching words, the rays of the Sun began to fade and the night fell.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It teaches humility: knowledge of dharma is profound, yet emotional shock can still cloud discernment; therefore one should not judge the grieving harshly.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā explains to Daśaratha that grief can bewilder even the spiritually advanced, implicitly excusing his shaken state.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forbearance and compassion—recognizing psychological reality while still oriented toward dharma.