Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.46: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 46
सत्यपाशः · Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise
Narrated by ValmikiSetting: Daśaratha’s residence/inner apartments in Ayodhyā palacePlaces named: AyodhyāEntry into the king’s residence at the appointed hour
तत स्सूतो यथाकालं पार्थिवस्य निवेशने ॥४६॥
सुमन्त्रः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तुष्टाव जगतीपतिम् ।
tataḥ sūto yathākālaṃ pārthivasya niveśane ||46||
sumantraḥ prāñjalir bhūtvā tuṣṭāva jagatīpatim |
फिर सुमंत्र, जो रथ चलाता था, सही टाइम पे राजा के घर गया। हाथ जोड़ के खड़ा हो गया। और राजा की तारीफ करने लगा, जो पूरी दुनिया का मालिक था।
Sandhi Notes
- tata ssūtaḥ → tataḥ sūtaḥ (visarga sandhi)
- yathākālaṅ → yathākālam (anusvāra for final m)
- prāñjalirbhūtvā → prāñjaliḥ bhūtvā
- jagatīpatim is a ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa compound
Thereafter the charioteer Sumantra entered the inner apartment of the king, and with folded hands began singing the praise of the lord of the earth appropriate to the hour.
The teaching
Timeliness, humility, and reverent address are core virtues of service within rāja-dharma.
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra (right conduct)
- How it resolves
- Protocol observed
Devotion and practice
Añjali-bhāva as a transferable devotional posture; trains humility and attention in daily duties.
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Formal, measured, ceremonial
Themes
- Dharma
- Maryada
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Time-discipline
- Reverence
Añjali and timely duty as karma-yoga: disciplined action offered without self-assertion, oriented to a higher center of authority.
Echo of ‘ṛta’ (cosmic order) as social order: acting ‘at the proper time’ aligns with orderliness.
- Sumantra and Dasharatha
- Charioteer-minister offering formal praise with añjali (reverential)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.1 (Sumantra as key minister/charioteer in Ayodhyā court); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.14.45 (he begins praise)
Dharmaśāstra court etiquette traditions (timely audience, añjali)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated ‘prāñjali’ posture in audiences with elders and kings
Anuṣṭup
Solemn
Steady udātta on ‘प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा’ to mark reverence
FAQs
Dharma is disciplined service: acting at the right time (yathākāla) with humility and reverence toward rightful authority.
Sumantra enters Daśaratha’s quarters at dawn and begins formal praise with folded hands.
Humility (praṇāma/añjali) and punctuality in duty.
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