Valmiki Ramayana 2.64.72: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 72
शब्दवेध्य-अनर्थः, ऋषिशापः, दशरथस्य प्राणत्यागः
The Sound-Target Tragedy, the Sage’s Curse, and Dasaratha’s Death
Spoken by Dasharatha to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhyā (anticipated return)Return from forest-exile to capital
निवृत्तवनवासं तमयोध्यां पुनरागतम् ।
द्रक्ष्यन्ति सुखिनो रामं शुक्रं मार्गगतं यथा ॥७२॥
nivṛttavanavāsaṃ tam ayodhyāṃ punarāgatam |
drakṣyanti sukhino rāmaṃ śukraṃ mārgagataṃ yathā ||72||
लोग खुश होंगे जब राम को देखेंगे। राम वन से वापस अयोध्या आ रहा है। वो शुक्र तारे की तरह अपना रास्ता पकड़के चल रहा है।
Sandhi Notes
- tamayodhyām → tam ayodhyām
- punarāgatam → punar āgatam
- mārgagataṃ → mārga-gatam
Lucky men will behold Rama return to Ayodhya after the completion of his exile, like the planet Venus moving forward on its orbit.
The teaching
Dharma fulfilled in hardship culminates in restoration; like planetary order, righteous life has an appointed course and return.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma fulfillment and social well-being
Devotion and practice
Strengthens faith in dharmic timing—endurance through exile-like phases with confidence in auspicious return.
- Deity praised
- Rāma
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Auspicious, hopeful, radiant
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Exile
- Hope
- Cosmic order
Like a graha moving on its ordained mārga, the dhārmika life follows order; steadfastness through phases reveals inner constancy.
Ṛta/dharma as cosmic order (echoing Vedic ṛta) mirrored in ethical life.
Śukra (Venus) moving along its appointed path (astral simile)
- People of Ayodhya and Rama
- Subjects rejoicing at rightful return (joyful/reverent)
- Kausalya and Rama
- Mother anticipating reunion (hopeful)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa: Yuddhakāṇḍa return-to-Ayodhyā and coronation sequences (echo of anticipated joy); Purāṇic/Itihāsa motifs of exile-return restoring order
Vedic ṛta as cosmic regularity; graha-gati as metaphor for order
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated anticipations of Rāma’s return and the city’s welfare
Anuṣṭup
Joyful
Pañcama
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as an ordered path: just as a planet keeps its course, Rama keeps his vow and completes exile, returning in due time.
Daśaratha foresees Rama’s lawful return after exile, but speaks as one who will not survive to witness it.
Vow-keeping and disciplined endurance—Rama’s commitment to truth and duty is likened to cosmic regularity.
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