Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 27

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

अदृष्टदुःखं राजानं वृद्धमार्यं जितेन्द्रियम्।ब्रूयास्त्वमभिवाद्यैव मम हेतोरिदं वचः।।2.52.27।।

Transliteration

adṛṣṭaduḥkhaṃ rājānaṃ vṛddham āryaṃ jitendriyam | brūyās tvam abhivādyaiva mama hetoḥ idaṃ vacaḥ || 2.52.27 ||

Translation

まず恭しく礼拝してから、老いて高貴にして自制を備え、悲しみに慣れぬ王に、我がためにこの言葉を告げよ。

Word by Word

• adṛṣṭa-duḥkham: who has not experienced sorrow
• adṛṣṭa-duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭa (√dṛś धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam; 'one who has not seen sorrow'

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vṛddham: old
• vṛddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam

• āryam: noble, venerable
• āryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam

• jita-indriyam: self-controlled
• jita-indriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (√ji धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam; 'one whose senses are conquered'

• brūyāḥ: you should tell
• brūyāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

• abhivādya: having paid respects
• abhivādya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi√vad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययीभाववत्), 'having saluted'

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)

• mama: of me; my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• hetoḥ: for the sake (of)
• hetoḥ: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; idiomatically 'for my sake/on my behalf'

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of brūyāḥ

• vacaḥ: words, message
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (vacaḥ as 2nd sg. n.); apposition to idam

Context

After offering your salutations, tell these words, on my behalf, to the king who is respectable, bent with age and who has conquered his senses and never experienced any sorrow before.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as reverence (abhivādana) and truthful communication delivered respectfully to elders and rulers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Sumantra to convey a message to Daśaratha with proper courtly and familial etiquette.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and propriety (vinaya, maryādā) in speech and conduct.