Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 28

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

अथ मध्यमकक्ष्यायां समागच्छत्सुहृज्जनैः।स सर्वानर्थिनो दृष्ट्वा समेत्य प्रतिनन्द्य च।।2.16.27।।ततः पावकसङ्काशमारुरोह रथोत्तमम्।वैयाघ्रं पुरुषव्याघ्रो राजतं राजनन्दनः।।2.16.28।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.28

Transliteration

atha madhyamakakṣyāyāṁ samāgacchat suhṛjjanaiḥ |

sa sarvān arthino dṛṣṭvā sametya pratinandya ca || 2.16.27 ||

tataḥ pāvakasaṅkāśam ārurōha rathottamam |

vaiyāghraṁ puruṣavyāghro rājataṁ rājanandanaḥ || 2.16.28 ||

Translation

Kemudian, di pelataran tengah, ia berjumpa dengan para sahabatnya. Melihat mereka semua menanti dengan rindu, ia mendekat, menyapa dan memberi penghormatan. Sesudah itu sang pangeran—harimau di antara manusia—berkilau laksana api, mengenakan kulit harimau, lalu menaiki kereta terbaik berwarna perak.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• वैश्रवणसङ्काशम्: resembling Kubera
• वैश्रवणसङ्काशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-तत्पुरुष ('like Vaiśravaṇa/Kubera'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying तम्)

• उपविष्टम्: seated
• उपविष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

• स्वलङ्कृतम्: well adorned
• स्वलङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अलङ्कृ + क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सु + अलङ्कृत = 'well-adorned'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सूतः: the charioteer (Sumantra)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• पर्यङ्के: on the couch
• पर्यङ्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• सौवर्णे: golden
• सौवर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying पर्यङ्के)

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय; सहार्थे)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय (prefix-like indeclinable meaning 'with')

• उत्तरच्छदे: with an upper cover/canopy
• उत्तरच्छदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तरच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Context

Rama, the best among men, met all his friends in the middle courtyard. Having seen them all eager to see him, he approached and greeted them. Thereafter, he mounted the best silver chariot covered with tigerskin and glowing like fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes social duty and graciousness: even while proceeding on urgent royal business, Rāma acknowledges well-wishers respectfully, modeling balanced conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma meets and greets friends gathered in the middle courtyard, then mounts a splendid chariot to proceed onward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s saumyatā and saṅgraha (graciousness and ability to bind people through courtesy), alongside princely dignity in public movement.