Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 27

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः

The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

याचितो नो निवर्तस्व हंसशुक्लशिरोरुहैः।शिरोभिर्निभृताचार महीपतनपांसुलैः।।।।

Transliteration

yācito no nivartasva haṁsaśuklaśiroruhaiḥ | śirobhir nibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṁsulaiḥ ||

Translation

どうかお願い申し上げる、引き返してほしい。鵞鳥のごとく白き髪をいただき、慎み深く地に伏して塵をかぶった我らの頭は、あなたの前に垂れている。

Word by Word

• याचितः: (you are) entreated
• याचितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याच् (धातु) → याचित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त) used predicatively: 'having been begged' (addressed to त्वम् implied)

• नः: by us/our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• निवर्तस्व: return
• निवर्तस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हंस-शुक्ल-शिरोरुहैः: with hair white like a swan
• हंस-शुक्ल-शिरोरुहैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; adjective to शिरोभिः; कर्मधारयः—हंसवत् शुक्लानि शिरोरुहाणि येषु (white-haired like a swan)

• शिरोभिः: with (our) heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• निभृत-आचार: O steadfast in conduct
• निभृत-आचार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; addressing Rama; 'one whose conduct is restrained/steadfast'

• मही-पतन-पांसुलैः: soiled with dust from falling on the ground
• मही-पतन-पांसुलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पतन (प्रातिपदिक) + पांसुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; adjective to शिरोभिः; समासः—महीपतनस्य पांसुभिः पांसुलाः (dust-soiled by falling to the ground)

Context

O Rama, you are firm in your duty.We beseech you, our heads bowed with swan-white hair and soiled with dust, to return to Ayodhya.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya (implied by return)
• earth/ground (mahī)

FAQs

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

Dharma honors humility and respectful petition: elders and the pious appeal through self-abasement, demonstrating that moral persuasion should be free from arrogance.

What is the narrative situation?

The aged, disciplined Brahmins physically bow and plead with Rama to return, emphasizing their sorrow and reverence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and restraint (nibhṛta-ācāra): disciplined conduct even in intense emotional distress.