Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 21

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Setting: Ayodhya palace chamber near the king’s couchPlaces named: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

अथ रामो मुहूर्तेन लब्धसंज्ञं महीपतिम् ।

उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा शोकार्णवपरिप्लुतम् ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.21

Transliteration

atha rāmo muhūrtena labdhasaṃjñaṃ mahīpatim |

uvāca prāñjalir bhūtvā śokārṇavapariplutam ||21||

Translation

थोड़ी देर में राजा को होश आ गया। राम हाथ जोड़के खड़ा हो गया। राजा अभी भी दुख के समुंदर में डूबा हुआ था, फिर भी राम ने उससे बात की।

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Word by Word

• atha: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle (अनन्तर/आरम्भसूचक)
• Role: Kāla-sambandha (कालसम्बन्ध)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• muhūrtena: in a moment
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; time-measure used adverbially
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• labdha-saṃjñam: who had regained consciousness
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (क्तान्त from √labh) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'having regained consciousness'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (qualifying mahīpatim)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mahī-patim: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): 'lord of the earth'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• uvāca: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective to rāmaḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• bhūtvā: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा, अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• śoka-arṇava-pariplutam: immersed in a sea of grief
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + paripluta (प्रातिपदिक/क्तान्त from pari-√plu)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: 'immersed in the ocean of sorrow'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular (qualifying mahīpatim)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• रामो = रामः
• लब्धसंज्ञं = लब्ध + संज्ञम्
• शोकार्णवपरिप्लुतम् = शोक + अर्णव + परिप्लुतम्

Context

After the king regained his consciousness in a moment, Rama with folded hands said to him, who was immersed in a sea of sorrow:

The teaching

Even when dharma is clear, speech must be timed and tempered with humility toward the suffering.

Duties in tension

• Obedience to the king’s command/boon
• Compassionate restraint given the king’s fragile state

Ethical theme

Virtue ethics (vinaya, dayā) within royal dharma

How it resolves

Vinaya-based communication: petitioning respectfully rather than asserting

Devotion and practice

Añjali as a bodily sādhanā: cultivating humility and steadiness before difficult duties.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Reverent, submerged, pleading

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Respect for elders
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Maryādā and satya-oriented humility: Rama approaches speech with reverence (folded hands), showing that even rightful requests should be made with respect, especially to parents and kings.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha regains consciousness; Rama prepares to speak to him formally and respectfully.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s humility and restraint—he maintains respectful conduct amid intense emotional upheaval.