Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.50: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 50

सत्यपाशः · Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Spoken by Sumantra to DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya (royal quarters)

Devanagari script

आदित्यस्सह चन्द्रेण यथा भूतधरां शुभाम् ॥५०॥

बोधयत्यद्य पृथिवीं तथा त्वां बोधयाम्यहम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.14.50

Transliteration

ādityaḥ saha candreṇa yathā bhūtadharāṃ śubhām ||50||

bodhayaty adya pṛthivīṃ tathā tvāṃ bodhayāmy aham |

Translation

जैसे सूरज और चाँध धरती को जगाते हैं, वैसे ही मैं तुम्हे जगाता हूँ। धरती सब जीवों को धारण करती है और भली है। सूरज और चाँद उसको रोशनी देते हैं।

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Word by Word

• ādityaḥ: the Sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• saha: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (comitative particle): ‘together with’
• Role: Sahārtha-dyotaka (सहार्थ-द्योतक)

• candreṇa: with the Moon
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन
• Role: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)

• yathā: as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमा/तुलना-बोधक: ‘as’
• Role: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)

• bhūtadharām: supporting all beings
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūtadharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of pṛthivīm: ‘supporter of beings’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• śubhām: auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of pṛthivīm
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bodhayati: awakens
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative), लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• adya: today
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक: ‘today/now’
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• tathā: so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक: ‘so’
• Role: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bodhayāmi: I awaken
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative), लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

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

Sandhi Notes

• ādityassaha → ādityaḥ saha
• bodhayatyadya → bodhayati adya
• tvāṅ bōdhayāmyaham → tvām bodhayāmi aham

Context

As the Sun along with the Moon awakens the auspicious earth which supports all beings, in the same way I am awakening you today.

The teaching

Cosmic order is invoked to legitimize urgency; dharma requires testing whether urgency serves truth and welfare, not merely desire.

Duties in tension

• Daśaratha’s obligation to respond to Kaikeyī’s summons/boons vs duty to act for the kingdom’s stability
• Personal affection vs impartial rāja-dharma

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / satya-vacana tension

How it resolves

Rhetorical escalation via cosmic analogy to compel immediate compliance

Devotion and practice

Contemplate daily awakening as alignment with ṛta (order); use dawn remembrance to orient actions toward dharma.

Deity praised

Sūrya and Candra (by analogy)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Cosmic, rousing, bright

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Cosmic order
• Kingship responsibilities

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Sun (Āditya)
• Moon (Candra)
• Earth (Pṛthivī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is living in rhythm with cosmic order: the king, like the world, must awaken to uphold welfare and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra continues the morning hymn, comparing his awakening of the king to the celestial awakening of the world.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of responsibility—prompting the ruler to rise for public duty.