Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 4
सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्
Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King
Setting: Ayodhyā (assembly space—likely palace/royal court vicinity)
ते समीक्ष्य समायान्तं रामप्रियचिकीर्षवः ।
सहसोत्पतितास्सर्वे स्वासनेभ्यस्ससम्भ्रमाः ॥४॥
te samīkṣya samāyāntaṃ rāmapriyacikīrṣavaḥ |
sahasotpatitāḥ sarve svāsanebhyaḥ sasambhramāḥ ||4||
സുമന്ത്രൻ വരുന്നതു കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, രാമന്റെ ക്ഷേമം ആഗ്രഹിച്ച എല്ലാവരും ആകാംക്ഷാഭരിതമായ ഉത്സാഹത്തോടെ തങ്ങളുടെ ആസനങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് പെട്ടെന്ന് എഴുന്നേറ്റു.
Sandhi Notes
- तानुवाच → tān uvāca
- क्षिप्रमाख्यात → kṣipram ākhyāta
On seeing (Sumantra) arriving, all of them, wellwishers to Rama, quickly rose from their seats.
The teaching
Respect for messengers and readiness to act for another’s welfare are marks of cultured dharma.
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra-dharma / sevā
For your practice
Models attentive readiness (sambhrama) as a devotional attitude toward dharma’s summons.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Alert, expectant, respectful
Themes
- Dharma
- Maryada
- Itihasa
- Ethics
The sudden rising mirrors antaḥkaraṇa’s uttiṣṭha impulse when dharma’s call approaches—read as readiness for right action.
Kaṭha Upaniṣad’s imperative mood (uttiṣṭhata jāgrata) resonates as a cultural echo of ‘rising’ into purposeful attention.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.17 (court/assembly reactions around Rāma’s impending events—contextual parallel)
Mahābhārata sabhā scenes where elders rise upon a revered arrival (general sabhā-ācāra motif)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa 2.16 (procession/announcement sequence involving Sumantra)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Slightly quicker tempo; stress on "sahasोत्पतिताः" to convey suddenness
FAQs
Respectful conduct toward elders and royal messengers, and prompt support for the righteous (here, goodwill toward Rama), are shown as socially dharmic behavior.
In Ayodhya, as Sumantra approaches, Rama’s supporters react immediately, rising from their seats to receive him.
Loyalty and readiness to serve Rama’s rightful welfare, expressed through courteous and prompt action.
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