Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 38

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Setting: Ayodhyā (streets with rooftops/terraces and open ground)Places named: harmya (rooftop/terrace), kṣiti (ground)Procession/movement through the city

Devanagari script

रामं सर्वानवद्याङ्ग्यो रामपिप्रीषया ततः ॥३८॥

वचोभिरग्य्रैर्हर्म्यस्था क्षितिस्थाश्च ववन्दिरे ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.38

Transliteration

rāmaṃ sarvānavadyāṅgyo rāmapiprīṣayā tataḥ ||38||

vacobhir agrair harmyasthāḥ kṣitisthāś ca vavandire |

Translation

फिर बहुत खूबसूरत औरतें राम को देख के प्रणाम करने लगीं। कुछ औरतें छत पर खड़ी थीं और कुछ ज़मीन पर। उन्होंने राम को अच्छे-अच्छे शब्द से समझाया और उसको खुश करने की कोशिश की।

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Word by Word

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/क्रमार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereafter')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• पावकसङ्काशम्: fire-like
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-तत्पुरुष ('like fire'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying रथोत्तमम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• आरुरोह: mounted
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रथोत्तमम्: the best chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('best chariot'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• वैयाघ्रम्: tiger-skin covered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैयाघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying रथोत्तमम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पुरुषव्याघ्रः: tiger among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('tiger among men'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• राजतम्: silver
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying रथोत्तमम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• राजनन्दनः: the king's son
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('king's son'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• पावकसङ्काशम् = पावक + सङ्काशम्
• रथोत्तमम् = रथ + उत्तमम्

Context

Women with faultless limbs standing on their housetops as well as on the ground paid their homage with charming words in order to propitiate Rama.

The teaching

Auspicious, truthful, and pleasing speech is itself a form of dharma and communal support.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma / vāg-dharma

Devotion and practice

Encourages sāttvika speech—praise that gladdens the virtuous and strengthens dharma.

Deity praised

Rāma (praised through agrya-vāk)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tender, auspicious, uplifting

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya (implied city setting)

FAQs

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

Public reverence for a virtuous prince reflects dharma: society honors those who embody righteousness, and speech used for blessing and respect is treated as ethically elevating.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds through the royal road, women in Ayodhya gather at different vantage points to salute him with auspicious words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s public esteem—his perceived integrity and worthiness—shown by spontaneous civic veneration.