Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 28

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

अथ राजा वृत स्त्रीभिर्दीनाभिर्दीनचेतनः।निर्जगाम प्रियं पुत्रं द्रक्ष्यामीति ब्रुवन् गृहात्।।।।

Transliteration

atha rājā vṛtaḥ strībhir dīnābhir dīna-cetanaḥ | nirjagāma priyaṃ putraṃ drakṣyāmīti bruvan gṛhāt ||

Translation

そのとき王は、嘆き悲しむ女たちに囲まれ、心も沈みきって、宮殿を出て言った。「愛しき我が子に会いたい。」

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛ (वृ) + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: surrounded

• strībhiḥ: by women
• strībhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/सहकारक (by/with women)

• dīnābhiḥ: distressed
• dīnābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies strībhiḥ)

• dīna-cetanaḥ: despondent in mind
• dīna-cetanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna + cetana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (dīnā cetanā yasya = despondent-minded)

• nirjagāma: went out/emerged
• nirjagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + √gam (गम्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• priyam: beloved
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies putram)

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• drakṣyāmi: I shall see
• drakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• iti: thus/‘…’
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• bruvan: saying
• bruvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √brū (ब्रू) + शतृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त: saying

• gṛhāt: from the house/palace
• gṛhāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

Context

I wish to see my beloved son said the king with a sense of desolation and emerged, surrounded by forlorn women, from the palace.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• palace (gṛha)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the painful consequence of pledged truth: the king’s sorrow highlights how adherence to vows (satya) can wound personal happiness, yet must be faced.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, overwhelmed, comes out with the women of the palace, longing for one last sight of Rāma before the departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s deep parental love—human tenderness within the rigid framework of royal promises and dharma.