Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.55: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 55

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

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

Devanagari script

न हि शक्या प्रवेष्टुं सा मयाऽयोध्या त्वया विना।राजधानी महेन्द्रस्य यथा दुष्कृतकर्मणा।।2.52.55।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.55

Transliteration

na hi śakyā praveṣṭuṃ sā mayāyodhyā tvayā vinā |

rājadhānī mahendrasya yathā duṣkṛtakarmaṇā ||2.52.55||

Translation

ຫາກບໍ່ມີພຣະອົງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ອາດເຂົ້າສູ່ອະໂຍທະຍາໄດ້; ດັ່ງຄົນຜູ້ກະທຳບາບ ບໍ່ອາດເຂົ້າສູ່ນະຄອນຂອງມະເຫນທຣາ (ພຣະອິນທຣາ) ອັນຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່ໄດ້ຉັນນັ້ນ.

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• śakyā: possible
• śakyā: Kriya (क्रियाविशेष/possibility predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (ayodhyā)

• praveṣṭum: to enter
• praveṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Infinitive)

• sā: that
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• ayodhyā: Ayodhya
• ayodhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• tvayā: with you
• tvayā: Sahakari (सहकारी/ सह-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• vinā: without
• vinā: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: वियोगार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like: without)

• rājadhānī: capital city
• rājadhānī: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājadhānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्; उपमान-पद (yathā)

• mahendrasya: of Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः (mahā + indra = 'great Indra'); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 6 (षष्ठी), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (as/like)

• duṣkṛta-karmaṇā: by one of evil deeds
• duṣkṛta-karmaṇā: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣkṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (duṣkṛta-karman = 'one of evil deeds'); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

Context

Just as a sinner cannot enter the capital of Indra (heaven), it is impossible for me to enter Ayodhya without you.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• Ayodhya
• Mahendra (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to moral worthiness and rightful belonging: the verse uses the karma analogy to show that separation from righteousness makes even one’s home feel inaccessible.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra argues that returning to Ayodhya without Rama is unthinkable for him, expressing moral and emotional dependence on Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and loyalty—Sumantra refuses comfort or normalcy if it requires abandoning the righteous person he serves.