Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 9

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम्

The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave-Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Devanagari script

स सत्यवादी धर्मात्मा गाम्भीर्यात्सागरोपमः।आकाश इव निष्पङ्को नरेन्द्रः प्रत्युवाच तम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa satyavādī dharmātmā gāmbhīryāt sāgaropamaḥ | ākāśa iva niṣpaṅko narendraḥ pratyuvāca tam ||2.34.9||

Translation

സത്യവാദിയും ധർമാത്മാവും, ഗാംഭീര്യത്തിൽ സമുദ്രസമനും, ആകാശംപോലെ നിർമലനും ആയ ആ നരേന്ദ്രൻ അവനോട് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सत्यवादी: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सत्यं वदति इति)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• गाम्भीर्यात्: in depth; by profundity
• गाम्भीर्यात्: Hetu/Avadhi (हेतु/अवधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाम्भीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेतौ/विशेषणे (in respect of: ‘in depth’)

• सागरोपमः: like the ocean
• सागरोपमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सागरस्य उपमः)

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमानपद (as standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• निष्पङ्कः: spotless; free from mire
• निष्पङ्कः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + पङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/निः-तत्पुरुषः (पङ्कः न यस्य/यत्र)

• नरेन्द्रः: the king
• नरेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् इन्द्रः)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

O Lord of the world! behold him embellished with all princely virtues like the Sun encircled with its rays, (now) leaving for the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as an inner moral identity (dharmātmā) inseparable from truthfulness (satyavāda), especially essential for a ruler.

What is the narrative situation?

The text characterizes Daśaratha’s nature and moral stature just before recording his response to Sumantra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s truthfulness, purity, and dignified depth—idealized traits of a king even amid crisis.