Valmiki Ramayana 2.65.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — Daśaratha’s Death Discovered in the Palace

Morning Rites Turn to Lament

Devanagari script

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि।वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम्।।2.65.1।।सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः।गायका: स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक्।।2.65.2।।

Transliteration

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ prātarevāpare 'hani |

vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṃs tat pārthiva-niveśanam ||

sūtāḥ paramasaṃskārā maṅgalāś cottamaśrutāḥ |

gāyakāḥ stutiśīlāś ca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak ||

Translation

その夜が明け、翌日の早朝、讃歌を捧げる者たちが王の御殿に参上した。高度に修め学識も深く、吉祥の言葉を述べる吟遊詩人と系譜を語る者たち、さらに讃美に長けた歌い手たちが、次々と到来し、それぞれに祝福の詞を唱えた。

Word by Word

• सूताः: bards/genealogists
• सूताः: Karta (कर्ता) (वन्दिनः इत्यादीनां समुच्चयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• परमसंस्काराः: highly accomplished
• परमसंस्काराः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; सूताः इति विशेषणम्

• मङ्गलाः: auspicious
• मङ्गलाः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (सूताः/वन्दिनः) इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• उत्तमश्रुताः: well-learned
• उत्तमश्रुताः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम + श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (सूताः/वन्दिनः) इति विशेषणम्

• गायकाः: singers
• गायकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• स्तुतिशीलाः: given to praise
• स्तुतिशीलाः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तुति + शील (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; गायकाः/सूताः इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• निगदन्तः: reciting/uttering
• निगदन्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (कर्तृवाचक कृदन्तः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + गद् (धातु) → निगदत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• पृथक्: one by one
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for distributive sense)

Context

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā (implied palace)
• Sūta (bards/genealogists)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through social duty and courtly order: those appointed to bless and praise the king arrive punctually, sustaining the kingdom’s ceremonial rhythm—even as unseen truth (satya) has already changed everything.

What is the narrative situation?

The next morning, professional panegyrists, bards, and singers come to the palace to perform their customary praises, unaware that Daśaratha has died.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and role-based responsibility: the court performers fulfill their assigned function with learning, auspicious speech, and orderly conduct.