Valmiki Ramayana 2.33.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 5

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः · Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Setting: Ayodhya (public road where Rāma is seen)Moment of visual shock during departure

Devanagari script

पदातिं वर्जितच्छत्रं रामं दृष्ट्वा जनास्तदा ।

ऊचुर्बहुविधा वाच श्शोकोपहतचेतसः ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.33.5

Transliteration

padātiṃ varjitacchatraṃ rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā janās tadā |

ūcur bahuvidhā vācaḥ śokopahatacetasaḥ ||5||

Translation

രാജച്ഛത്രം ഇല്ലാതെ കാൽനടയായി പോകുന്ന രാമനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ദുഃഖം ഹൃദയം തകർത്ത ജനങ്ങൾ അന്ന് പലവിധ വാക്കുകൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

• पदातिम्: on foot, a pedestrian
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण (as apposition)
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण

• वर्जितच्छत्रम्: without the royal umbrella
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जित + छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रामम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; वर्जित (क्त-कृदन्त from √वर्ज्) + छत्र; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘deprived of umbrella’)
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• रामम्: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (object of dṛṣṭvā)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया

• जनाः: people
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: कर्ता

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय
• Role: कालाधिकरण

• ऊचुः: said/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
• Role: क्रिया

• बहुविधाः: various, many kinds of
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वाचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण

• वाचः: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative Plural)
• Role: कर्म (object of ūcuḥ)

• शोकोपहतचेतसः: grief-stricken
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + उपहत + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; जनाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘minds struck by grief’)
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• वर्जितच्छत्रम् = वर्जित + छत्रम्
• जनास्तदा = जनाः + तदा
• शोकोपहतचेतसः = शोक + उपहत + चेतसः (समास)

Context

Seeing Rama walking without the royal umbrella, people were very much shocked. They expressed their reaction in so many words:

The teaching

True sovereignty is dharma; when outer signs fall away, inner steadiness reveals the kingly self.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya entitlement to royal honor vs obedience to father’s word and exile command
• Public desire for Rāma’s coronation vs dharmic acceptance of vow-bound outcome

Ethical theme

Satya-vrata / pitṛ-vākya-paripālana

How it resolves

Renunciation/obedience (Rāma embodies resolution; people respond with lament)

For your practice

Meditation on Rāma’s humility and steadfastness; supports practices of surrender (śaraṇāgati) and endurance in loss of status.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Heartbroken, reverent, bewildered

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Royal symbolism
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma and rightful order are symbolized by royal insignia; its absence signals moral and political upheaval, prompting public lament and reflection.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma proceeds in a markedly altered state—walking without royal honors—provoking grief-stricken reactions from the citizens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s restraint and humility are implied: he accepts diminished outward status while continuing to act within dharma.