Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 37

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm

Devanagari script

जीवत्यपि महाराजे तवैव वचनं वयम्।नातिक्रमामहे सर्वे वेलां प्राप्येव सागरः।।।।

Transliteration

jīvaty api mahārāje tavaiva vacanaṃ vayam |

na atikramāmahe sarve velāṃ prāpyeva sāgaraḥ || 2.67.37 ||

Translation

大王がご在世の折でさえ、われらは皆、あなたの御言葉に決して背かなかった。岸に至った海が、その境を越えぬがごとく。

Word by Word

• जीवति: (when) lives/is alive
• जीवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada; used with locative absolute sense with 'mahārāje'

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, concessive 'even/though'

• महाराजे: when the great king (was) alive
• महाराजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; locative absolute with 'jīvati'

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, emphasis

• वचनम्: command/word
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of 'nātikramāmahe'

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• अतिक्रमामहे: overstep/transgress
• अतिक्रमामहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati+√kram (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural, Ātmanepada

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to 'vayam'

• वेलाम्: shore/limit
• वेलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: velā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of 'prāpya'

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having reached'

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-nipāta

• सागरः: the ocean
• सागरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; simile subject

Context

Even while the great king was alive, we never defied your word like the ocean which does not overstep its shore.

Characters & Entities

• mahārāja (Daśaratha, implied)
• Vasiṣṭha (addressed as 'tava')
• sāgara (ocean)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes maryādā (boundaries) and disciplined obedience to rightful guidance; social order is maintained when leaders’ lawful words are not transgressed.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembly reassures Vasiṣṭha of their longstanding deference to his authority and counsel in royal matters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint and respect for established authority (maryādā).