Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 20

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Setting: Ayodhya royal palace chamberPlaces named: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

तं परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।

पर्यंङ्के सीतया सार्धं रुदन्तः समवेशयन् ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.20

Transliteration

taṃ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ tāv ubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau |

paryaṅke sītayā sārdhaṃ rudantaḥ samaveśayan ||20||

Translation

राम और लक्ष्मण दोनों ने राजा को अपनी बाहों में जकड़ लिया। सीता भी पास थी, और वो तीनों रो रहे थे। उन्होंने राजा को बिस्तर पर लेटा दिया।

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Word by Word

• tam: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्, अव्ययकृदन्त) with upasarga pari- (परि)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• bāhubhyām: with (their) two arms
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• tau: those two
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ubhau: both
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व): 'Rama and Lakshmana'; Masculine, Nominative, Dual
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Dvandva

• paryaṅke: on the couch
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• sītayā: with Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular
• Role: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)

• sārdham: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, postposition/adverb meaning 'together with' (सह-अर्थक)
• Role: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)

• rudantaḥ: weeping
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्यय, शतृन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural (बहुवचन) used for dual-subject by poetic usage; sense: 'while weeping'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• samaveśayan: placed/seated
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Plural (बहुवचन) (poetic for dual agents); causative sense 'made sit/placed' from √viś with prefixes sam-ava-
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तावुभौ = तौ + उभौ
• रामलक्ष्मणौ (द्वन्द्व)
• सीतया सार्धम् (sārdham governs instrumental)

Context

Thereafter Rama and Lakshmana assisted by Sita, lifted him wailing in their arms and laid him on a couch.

The teaching

Dharma includes timely compassion; steadfastness is not hardness but disciplined tenderness.

Duties in tension

• Duty to proceed with exile as obedience to the king’s word
• Duty to preserve the king’s life/health through presence and comfort

Ethical theme

Care ethics within svadharma

How it resolves

Temporary prioritization of immediate care while maintaining commitment to depart

For your practice

Models bhakti as service: supporting the suffering with humility and presence; useful for contemplation on karuṇā in family life.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Embracing, weeping, caregiving

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Family duty
• Compassion
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma as seva (caregiving): even while facing exile, Rama’s household prioritizes the immediate welfare of the elder king, demonstrating righteous conduct through compassionate action.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha faints, Rama and Lakshmana (with Sita) lift and settle him onto a couch.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tenderness and filial devotion—care for a parent in physical and emotional collapse.