Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.15: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 15

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Setting: Ayodhyā (palace)

Devanagari script

सा त्रियामा तथार्त्तस्य चन्द्रमण्डलमण्डिता ॥१५॥

राज्ञो विलपमानस्य न व्यभासत शर्वरी ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.15

Transliteration

sā triyāmā tathārttasya candramaṇḍalamaṇḍitā ||15||

rājño vilapamānasya na vyabhāsata śarvarī |

Translation

三ヤーマの夜は月輪に飾られていたが、かくも苦しみ泣く王には、その夜は明るくは見えなかった。

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Word by Word

• sā: that (night)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• triyāmā: the three-watched (night)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + yāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘three watches’ = night
• Role: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Compound: Dvigu

• tathā: thus; in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ārttasya: of the distressed one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• candra-maṇḍala-maṇḍitā: adorned with the moon’s orb
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra + maṇḍala + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त) ‘adorned’; compound: ‘adorned with the moon-disc’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• vilapamānasya: of (him) lamenting
• Type: Verb
• Root: vilap (वि + लप् धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• vyabhāsata: shone forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhās (भास् धातु) with vi-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• śarvarī: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• tathārttasya = tathā + ārttasya

Context

For the king who was in deep anguish and in tears the night appeared dark even though it was adorned with the lunar orb.

The teaching

Suffering can eclipse even the most soothing beauty; consolation must address the inner cause, not merely the outer scene.

Ethical theme

Psychology of grief

For your practice

Practice of witnessing: noticing how perception is colored by duḥkha; cultivating inner light through japa/dhyāna rather than relying on externals.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Moonlit-yet-bleak, aching, withdrawn

Themes

• Itihasa
• Grief
• Inner darkness
• Dharma conflict
• Poetic imagery

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Moon
• Night

FAQs

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

When dharma is threatened, the mind loses its light: external auspiciousness (moonlit night) cannot console one who feels moral ruin and impending injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

Night falls; despite moonlight, Daśaratha experiences only darkness because of his grief over Kaikeyī’s demands.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s deep attachment and conscience—his suffering arises from the collision between love for Rāma and the binding force of pledged boons.