Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 16

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Devanagari script

नात्यर्थमभिकाङ्क्षामि मृगयां सरयूवने।रतिर्ह्येषातुला लोके राजर्षिगणसम्मता।।।।

Transliteration

nātyartham abhikāṅkṣāmi mṛgayāṁ sarayū-vane | ratir hy eṣā ’tulā loke rājarṣi-gaṇa-sammatā ||

Translation

സരയൂവനത്തിലെ വേട്ടയെ ഞാൻ അതിയായി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല; എങ്കിലും ലോകത്തിൽ ഈ വിനോദം അതുല്യമായ ആനന്ദമാണ്, രാജർഷിമാരുടെ സമൂഹത്തിൽ അംഗീകരിതവും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (negation particle)

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively
• अत्यर्थम्: Degree (परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: excessively/greatly)

• अभिकाङ्क्षामि: I desire
• अभिकाङ्क्षामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन

• मृगयाम्: hunting
• मृगयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• सरयूवने: in the Sarayū forest
• सरयूवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयू + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सरय्वाः वनम् (forest of Sarayū)

• रतिḥ: delight/sport
• रतिḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण रतिः

• अतुला: incomparable
• अतुला: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण रतिः

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• राजर्षिगणसम्मता: approved by royal sages
• राजर्षिगणसम्मता: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजर्षि + गण + सम्मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण रतिः; तत्पुरुषः: राजर्षिगणेन सम्मता (approved by the group of royal sages)

Context

The descendant of Ikshvaku related to the charioteer in a sweet voice the thoughts that came to him and went on the way (continued his journey).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkōnapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortyninth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sarayū (river)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is moderation: even where a practice is socially sanctioned for kṣatriyas and royal sages, Rama expresses restraint and does not cling to pleasure.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama reflects aloud that hunting is esteemed as a royal pastime, but he personally does not strongly crave it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (dama)—a capacity to acknowledge pleasure without becoming attached to it.