Valmiki Ramayana 2.38.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament

Devanagari script

तेन तत्र प्रणादेन दुःखितस्स महीपतिः।चिच्छेद जीविते श्रद्धां धर्मे यशसि चात्मनः।।।।

Transliteration

tena tatra praṇādena duḥkhitaḥ sa mahīpatiḥ | ciccheda jīvite śraddhāṃ dharme yaśasi cātmanaḥ ||

Translation

その場に響き渡った叫びに打たれ、悲嘆に沈んだ大地の主は、生への信を断ち、さらには自らのダルマと名誉への確信さえ失った。

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular: "by that")

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: "there")

• प्रणादेन: by the shout/cry
• प्रणादेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• दुःखितः: distressed
• दुःखितः: कर्तृ (Agent) विशेषणम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दुःख्/दुःखय् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular; adjectival predicate)

• महीपतिः: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिः: कर्तृ (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मही-या: पति: = "lord of the earth")

• चिच्छेद: broke/cut off
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु) (to cut) + लिट्
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परोक्स-भूत/Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular: "he broke/cut off")

• जीविते: in life
• जीविते: अधिकरण (Domain/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Locative singular: "in life")

• श्रद्धाम्: faith
• श्रद्धाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• धर्मे: in righteousness (dharma)
• धर्मे: अधिकरण (Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Locative singular: "in dharma/righteousness")

• यशसि: in fame/glory
• यशसि: अधिकरण (Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Locative singular: "in fame")

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधक-निपातः (conjunction: "and")

• आत्मनः: of himself / his own
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Genitive singular: "of himself/his")

Context

Hearing that tumult the distressed Dasaratha lost faith in his own life and in his righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse shows the moral cost when dharma and truth are experienced as fractured: a ruler’s inner faith (śraddhā) is essential to uphold righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Following the tumult in the palace during the exile crisis, Daśaratha is emotionally broken and loses hope in life and in his own righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a collapse: Daśaratha’s loss of inner steadiness highlights how grief can undermine a king’s sense of dharma and honour.