Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 7

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Spoken by Sumantra to RamaSetting: AyodhyaImpending movement toward king’s chambers

Devanagari script

तमुवाच तत स्सूतो राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति ।

श्रुत्वा प्रमाणमत्र त्वं गमनायेतराय वा ॥७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.7

Transliteration

tam uvāca tataḥ sūto rājā tvāṃ draṣṭum icchati |

śrutvā pramāṇam atra tvaṃ gamanāyetarāya vā ||7||

Translation

すると御者は言った。「王はあなたにお目にかかりたいと望んでおられます。これを聞いた今、この場での決はあなたにあります――行くか、あるいは行かぬか。」

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Word by Word

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ततः: thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (thereafter)
• Role: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• सूतः: the charioteer
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• त्वाम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय, infinitive)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)

• इच्छति: desires
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा, gerund)
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• प्रमाणम्: authority/decider
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)
• Role: Vidhaya (विधेय/सम्बन्ध)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/विषयवाचक (in this matter)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• गमनाय: for going
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘for going’
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)

• इतराय: for the other alternative
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘for the other (course)’
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
• Role: Vikalpa (विकल्प)

Sandhi Notes

• तमुवाच = तम् + उवाच
• तत स्सूतः = ततः + सूतः
• त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति = त्वाम् + द्रष्टुम् + इच्छति
• गमनायेतराय = गमनाय + इतराय

Context

Then Sumantra replied, 'The king desires to see you. To go or not to go, the decision is yours'.

The teaching

Even when summoned by authority, one must respond with discernment; responsibility for the choice cannot be outsourced.

Duties in tension

• Obedience to father-king’s summons vs. prudent hesitation due to ominous context
• Personal agency in dharma vs. deference to royal command

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / nīti

How it resolves

Pending decision (set-up for immediate compliance)

For your practice

Encourages reflective obedience—acting respectfully while keeping viveka awake.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Measured, weighty, decisional

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Agency
• Respectful counsel

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (the king)

FAQs

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

Dharma as respectful counsel: Sumantra conveys the king’s wish faithfully, while acknowledging Rāma’s personal agency and judgment in responding.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra informs Rāma that Daśaratha wants to see him, and indicates the decision to comply rests with Rāma after hearing the message.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s integrity and tact—he reports the message without distortion and speaks with deference.