Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवन्तं पितरं रामस्सम्प्रस्थितो वनम्।अवाक्छिरसमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ bruvantaṃ pitaraṃ rāmaḥ samprasthito vanam | avākchirasam āsīnam idaṃ vacanam abravīt || 2.38.14 ||

Translation

പിതാവ് ഇങ്ങനെ സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, വനത്തിലേക്ക് പുറപ്പെടാൻ ഒരുങ്ങിയിരുന്ന രാമൻ, തലകുനിച്ച് ഇരുന്ന പിതാവിനോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रिया-विशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• ब्रुवन्तम्: speaking
• ब्रुवन्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; present active participle qualifying 'pitaram'

• पितरम्: (his) father
• पितरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्प्रस्थितः: having set out
• सम्प्रस्थितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having set out'

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: कर्म/गति (destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (goal)

• अवाक्शिरसम्: with head bowed
• अवाक्शिरसम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'अवाक् शिरः यस्य' = with bowed head; qualifies 'āsīnam'/'pitaram'

• आसीनम्: sitting
• आसीनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; PPP 'seated' qualifying 'pitaram'

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg past

Context

Rama who was about to leave for the forest addressed his father who sat with his head bent once again:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as respectful conduct amid crisis: Rāma approaches his grieving father with deference, maintaining propriety even when wronged.

What is the narrative situation?

On the brink of leaving for exile, Rāma turns to console and address Daśaratha, who is bowed down in sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate restraint: Rāma prioritizes his father’s suffering over his own grievance.