Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 5

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Spoken by Suta to King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhya palace/court (king’s presence)

Devanagari script

तं वर्धयित्वा राजानं पूर्वं सूतो जयाशिषा ।

भयविक्लबया वाचा मन्दया श्लक्ष्णमब्रवीत् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.5

Transliteration

taṁ vardhayitvā rājānaṁ pūrvaṁ sūto jayāśiṣā |

bhayaviklabayā vācā mandayā ślakṣṇam abravīt ||5||

Translation

ആദ്യം സൂതൻ ജയാശീർവാദത്തോടെ രാജാവിനെ അഭിവാദ്യം ചെയ്തു; പിന്നെ ഭയത്തിൽ വിറയുന്ന വാക്കുകളോടെ, മന്ദവും മൃദുവുമായ സ്വരത്തിൽ സാവധാനം പറഞ്ഞു.

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Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वर्धयित्वा: having greeted
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), causative sense ‘having greeted/paid respects’
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• राजानम्: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पूर्वम्: at first
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘first/at first’
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)

• सूतः: the charioteer
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• जय-आशिषा: with a victory-blessing
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘with a blessing of victory’)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• भय-विक्लबया: with a fear-trembling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘trembling due to fear’), विशेषणम् (वाचा)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वाचा: with (his) voice
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• मन्दया: feeble
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाचा)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: gently
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative) ‘gently’
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• जयाशिषा = जय-आशिषा
• श्लक्ष्णमब्रवीत् = श्लक्ष्णम् + अब्रवीत्

Context

At first greeting the king with the words 'victory be yours', the charioteer, trembling with fear, gently said in a feeble voice.

The teaching

In moments of political and familial crisis, truthful counsel is best delivered with respectful, gentle speech.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma (conduct); sevā-dharma

Devotion and practice

Models disciplined speech and humility—useful as a bhāva for seva and guru/elder reverence practices.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

जयाशिषा (victory-blessing; not a mantra proper)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Trembling, hushed, foreboding

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sūta

FAQs

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

Respectful speech toward authority, even when delivering difficult news—dharma expressed as propriety, restraint, and reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

A charioteer approaches King Daśaratha, offers a formal blessing, and prepares to speak under fear and pressure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and controlled speech (mṛdutā/ślakṣṇatā), showing disciplined communication in tense circumstances.