Valmiki Ramayana 2.65.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 13

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Death Discovered in the Palace

Morning Rites Turn to Lament

Setting: अयोध्या, राजशयनगृह (royal bedchamber)

Devanagari script

तथाप्युचितवृत्ता स्ता विनयेन नयेन च ।

नह्यस्य शयनं स्पृष्ट्वा किञ्चिदप्युपलेभिरे ॥१३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.65.13

Transliteration

tathāpy ucitavṛttāstā vinayena nayena ca |

na hy asya śayanaṃ spṛṣṭvā kiñcid apy upalebhire ||13||

Translation

वो बहिन अदब से रही, होश में रही। उन्होंने राजा के बिस्तर को हाथ लगाया, लेकिन कोई हरकत नहीं मिली।

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Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that manner)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपवाद-निपात (even/also)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Particle)

• उचितवृत्ताः: of proper conduct
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित-वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; उचित + वृत्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास ('उचितं वृत्तं येषाम्/याः'); विशेषण (ताः)
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• ताः: those (women)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta)

• विनयेन: with restraint/modesty
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन
• Role: करण (Karana/Instrument)

• नयेन: with propriety/discipline
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन
• Role: करण (Instrument)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Connector)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Negation)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ निपात (indeed/for)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Particle)

• अस्य: of him (the king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (of him)
• Role: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive)

• शयनम्: bed
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Object of स्पृष्ट्वा)

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having touched'
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)

• किञ्चित्: anything/a little
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अल्पपरिमाणवाचक (a little/anything)
• Role: कर्म (Object of upalebhire)

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपवाद/बलवर्धक (even)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Particle)

• उपलेभिरे: found/perceived
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: उप-; अर्थ: 'to find/perceive'
• Role: क्रिया (Verb)

Sandhi Notes

• तथा + अपि → तथापि
• न + हि → नहि
• किञ्चित् + अपि → किञ्चिदपि
• अपि + उपलेभिरे → अप्युपलेभिरे

Context

Conducting themselves agreeably with restraint and obedience, the women touched the bed of Dasaratha but did not perceive any sign of life.

The teaching

Duties in tension

• मर्यादा/लज्जा (modesty and protocol) vs. जीवन-रक्षा हेतु निकट जाँच (urgent checking)

Ethical theme

मर्यादा-धर्म/आपद्धर्म

How it resolves

Measured action—touching the bed while preserving decorum

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Cautious, stifled, ominous

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Etiquette
• Mortality

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as maryādā (proper boundaries): even in urgency, they act with restraint and respectful protocol toward the king.

What is the narrative situation?

The attendants attempt to verify the king’s condition by touching the bed but find no response or indication of life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint and decorum (vinaya): acting correctly even under fear and uncertainty.