Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 30

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

मोहनार्थं तु पौराणां सूतं रामोऽब्रवीद्वचः।उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि त्वं रथमास्थाय सारथे।।2.46.30।।मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा निवर्तय रथं पुनः।यथा न विद्युः पौरा मां तथा कुरु समाहितः।।2.46.31।।

Transliteration

mohanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmo 'bravīd vacaḥ | udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ ratham āsthāya sārathe ||2.46.30||

Translation

都の人々を惑わすため、ラーマは御者に告げた。「御者よ、車に乗り、北を向いて進め。」

Word by Word

• mohanārtham: for deception / to elude
• mohanārtham: Hetu (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohana-artha (प्रातिपदिक: mohana + artha)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'purpose of deluding'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially (prayojana)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• paurāṇām: of the citizens
• paurāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sūtam: charioteer
• sūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana/vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• udaṅmukhaḥ: north-facing
• udaṅmukhaḥ: Sambodhana/Viśeṣaṇa (सम्बोधन/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udan-mukha (प्रातिपदिक: udan + mukha)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'face toward north'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used as address/qualification of 'you'

• prayāhi: go forth
• prayāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āsthāya: having mounted
• āsthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त/absolutive); 'having mounted/entered'

• sārathe: O charioteer
• sārathe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• muhūrtam: for a moment/while
• muhūrtam: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); duration-accusative

• tvaritam: quickly
• tvaritam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially = quickly

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त/absolutive) 'having gone'

• nivartaya: turn back
• nivartaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense 'make turn back' (णिच् implied)

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• yathā: so that / as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय) introducing purpose/manner clause

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• vidyuḥ: may know
• vidyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्, optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paurāḥ: citizens
• paurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: thus / in that way
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• kuru: do
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāhitaḥ: attentive / composed
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā > samāhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with tvam (understood)

Context

There is no doubt that now the men and women of Ayodhya, father's capital city must be bewailing our departure.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sumantra
• Citizens of Ayodhya
• Chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma can involve prudent strategy to prevent greater harm: Rama seeks to reduce public unrest and emotional turmoil by avoiding a direct, visible departure.

What is the narrative situation?

During the exile departure, Rama instructs Sumantra to take a misleading route so the citizens cannot easily follow or stop them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composed foresight—Rama balances truthfulness with compassionate prudence to protect the city from further distress.