Valmiki Ramayana 2.13.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Setting: Ayodhyā (palace chamber/courtyard)

Devanagari script

तथैवोष्णं विनिश्वस्य वृद्धो दशरथो नृपः ॥१६॥

विललापार्तवद्युखं गगनासक्तलोचनः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.13.16

Transliteration

tathaivoṣṇaṃ viniśvasya vṛddho daśaratho nṛpaḥ ||16||

vilalāpārtavad duḥkhaṃ gaganāsaktalocanaḥ |

Translation

ດັ່ງນັ້ນແຫຼະ ພຣະຣາຊາທະສະຣະຖະຜູ້ເຖົ້າຊະລາ ຫາຍໃຈອອກຮ້ອນໆ ແລະຄຳຄວນທຸກຂ໌ຂອງພຣະອົງດັ່ງຄົນເຈັບ ດວງຕາຈ້ອງຕິດຢູ່ທ້ອງຟ້າ

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Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)
• Role: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)

• uṣṇam: hotly; with hot breath
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with viniśvasya
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• viniśvasya: having heaved a sigh
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śvas (श्वस् धातु) with vi-
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ), ‘having sighed/heaved’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vṛddhaḥ: aged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with daśarathaḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• nṛpaḥ: king
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to daśarathaḥ
• Role: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)

• vilalāpa: lamented
• Type: Verb
• Root: lap (लप् धातु) with vi-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• ārtavat: like one afflicted
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ārtavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage of -vat (वत्) ‘like’; manner adverb
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• duḥkham: grief
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); internal object of lament
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• gagana-āsakta-locanaḥ: with eyes fixed on the sky
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gagana + āsakta (आ + सञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose eyes are fixed on the sky’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• tathaivōṣṇam = tathā + eva + uṣṇam
• vilalāpārtavat = vilalāpa + ārtavat

Context

The old king Dasaratha, heaving hot sighs, started lamenting pitiably fixing his gaze at the sky like the sick:

The teaching

Even sovereignty cannot shield one from jarā and duḥkha; ungoverned sorrow disorders breath and mind.

Ethical theme

Human frailty / impermanence

For your practice

Breath-awareness as support in grief; turning the gaze inward/upward toward steadiness rather than rumination.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Fevered, helpless, skyward

Themes

• Itihasa
• Grief
• Aging and vulnerability
• Dharma crisis
• Poetic description

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sky

FAQs

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

Dharma is not abstract: its burdens are borne in the body and mind. The verse shows how a ruler’s pledged word and moral conflict can break human strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration lingers on Daśaratha’s physical and emotional collapse as he continues to grieve through the night.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s seriousness about obligation—his suffering indicates he recognizes the gravity of the situation rather than treating it lightly.