Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 2

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Devanagari script

ततो गृहीते दुष्प्रेक्षे त्वशोभेतां तदायुधे।मालादामभिराबद्धे सीतया समलङ्कृते।।।।

Transliteration

tato gṛhīte duṣprekṣe tv aśobhetāṃ tad āyudhe |

mālā-dāmabhir ābaddhe sītayā samalaṅkṛte ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ಕೈಗೆತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡ ಆ ದುರ್ಬೀಕ್ಷ್ಯ, ದೀಪ್ತಿಮಾನ್ ಎರಡು ಆಯುಧಗಳು ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸಿದವು—ಸೀತೆಯು ಮಾಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪುಷ್ಪದಾಮಗಳಿಂದ ಕಟ್ಟಿಹಾಕಿ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಿದ್ದರಿಂದ.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगवत् अव्यय (adverb) अर्थः ‘then/thereafter’

• गृहीते: (the two) having been held/taken up
• गृहीते: अवस्था/विशेषण (state qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तदायुधे इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् (‘when/being held’)

• दुष्प्रेक्षे: dazzling, hard to gaze at
• दुष्प्रेक्षे: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष् + प्रेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् तदायुधयोः; समासः कर्मधारयः (‘hard to look at’ = dazzling)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अशोभेताम्: the two shone
• अशोभेताम्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; अर्थः ‘shone/appeared beautiful’

• तदायुधे: those two weapons
• तदायुधे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘his/their weapons’); विशेष्यं गृहीते/दुष्प्रेक्षे/आबद्धे/समलङ्कृते

• मालादामभिः: with garlands and wreaths
• मालादामभिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला + दामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण; द्वन्द्वः (‘garlands and wreath-strings’)

• आबद्धे: bound/fastened
• आबद्धे: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तदायुधे इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सीतया: by Sita
• सीतया: कर्ता/करण (agent of adorning)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे (agent in passive/PPP context)

• समलङ्कृते: decorated/ornamented
• समलङ्कृते: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√अलङ्कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तदायुधे इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Deserting our gardens, fields and houses and experiencing the same joy and sorrow of the virtuous Rama, we shall follow him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• āyudha (weapons)
• garlands (mālā, dāma)

FAQs

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

It highlights dhārmic readiness: sacred duty is approached with reverence and restraint, symbolized by weapons being taken up not for aggression but for righteous protection.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations for departure unfold, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa take up their weapons, and Sītā adorns them with garlands.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s devoted partnership and auspicious care—she supports the dhārmic path through loving, culturally meaningful gestures.