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Valmiki Ramayana 2.18.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 3

अष्टादशः सर्गः · Kaikeyī Discloses the Boons: Exile to Daṇḍaka and Bharata’s Consecration

रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ।

शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.18.3

rāmeti uktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpa-paryākulekṣaṇaḥ |

śaśāka nṛpatir dīno nekṣituṃ nābhibhāṣitum ||3||

राजा ने बस 'राम' नाम लिया। उसकी आँखों में आँसू आ गए थे। वो इतना दुखी हो गया कि न उसको देख पाया, न कुछ बोल पाया।

रामO Rama
राम:
सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootराम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; इति-उक्तौ
इतिthus
इति:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)
उक्त्वाhaving uttered
उक्त्वा:
क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having said’
तुbut
तु:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अन्वय-निपात (concessive/contrast particle)
वचनम्a word
वचनम्:
कर्म (Karma; of उक्त्वा)
TypeNoun
Rootवचन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणःwhose eyes were clouded with tears
बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः:
कर्ता (Karta; descriptive)
TypeAdjective
Rootबाष्प + पर्याकुल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीहि: बाष्पेण पर्याकुले ईक्षणे यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नृपतिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
शशाकwas able
शशाक:
क्रिया (Kriyā)
TypeVerb
Rootशक् (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; न-निषेधेन सह ‘could not’
नृपतिःthe king
नृपतिः:
कर्ता (Karta)
TypeNoun
Rootनृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
दीनःwretched
दीनः:
कर्ता (Karta; descriptive)
TypeAdjective
Rootदीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नृपतिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
नnot
न:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
ईक्षितुम्to look
ईक्षितुम्:
कर्म/उद्देश्य (Karma/Purpose complement of शक्)
TypeVerb
Rootईक्ष् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to look’
नnor/not
न:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
अभिभाषितुम्to speak
अभिभाषितुम्:
कर्म/उद्देश्य (Karma/Purpose complement of शक्)
TypeVerb
Rootअभि+भाष् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to speak to/address’

Dasaratha uttered the word 'Rama', but thereafter could neither say any more in distress nor look at him becuase his eyes were brimming with tears.

R
Rāma
D
Daśaratha

FAQs

The verse highlights the human cost that often accompanies dharma-bound decisions: the king’s inability to speak reflects the moral and emotional weight of actions tied to promises and royal duty.

Daśaratha, overwhelmed by tears, can only utter “Rāma” and then becomes incapable of speaking or even looking at him due to grief.

Daśaratha’s sincerity and emotional truthfulness are emphasized—his tears show the depth of paternal love and the torment created by conflicting obligations.

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