Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 17

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

Spoken by Rama to CharioteerSetting: Forest (general)

Devanagari script

राजर्षीणां हि लोकेऽस्मिन् रत्यर्थं मृगया वने ।

काले कृतां तां मनुजैर्घन्विनामभिकाङ्क्षिताम् ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.17

Transliteration

rājarṣīṇāṁ hi loke ’smin ratyarthaṁ mṛgayā vane |

kāle kṛtāṁ tāṁ manujair dhanvinām abhikāṅkṣitām ||17||

Translation

കാരണം ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ രാജർഷിമാർ വിനോദാർത്ഥം യുക്തമായ സമയങ്ങളിൽ വനത്തിൽ വേട്ട നടത്തുന്നു; ധനുർധരന്മാർ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഈ പ്രവൃത്തി പിന്നീട് മറ്റു മനുഷ്യരും സ്വീകരിച്ചു।

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Word by Word

• राजर्षीणाम्: of the royal sages
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः राज + ऋषि (कर्मधारय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/समर्थक (indeed/for)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• लोके: in the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• रत्यर्थम्: for pleasure
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (Accusative used adverbially: 'for the sake of'), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); समासः रत्याः अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• मृगया: hunting
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); अत्र कर्मपदत्वेन (object as 'hunting')
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वने: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• काले: at the proper time
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• कृताम्: done/undertaken
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular); कर्मणि-भावः (done/undertaken)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ताम्: that (hunting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मनुजैः: by men/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• धन्विनाम्: of the bowmen
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• अभिकाङ्क्षिताम्: desired/sought after
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular); विशेषणम् ताम् (qualifies 'that')
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• लोकेऽस्मिन् = लोके + अस्मिन्
• मनुजैर्धन्विनामभिकाङ्क्षिताम् = मनुजैः + धन्विनाम् + अभिकाङ्क्षिताम्

Context

In this world, hunting in the woods is a pleasure for royal sages and is greatly sought after by bowmen. This was later resorted to by others.

The teaching

Even accepted practices require limits; when elites act, their customs propagate—therefore regulation is itself a duty.

Duties in tension

• Martial/royal recreation and training
• Ethical restraint regarding harm to creatures
• Social responsibility as elite customs spread to others

Ethical theme

Ācāra/niyama

How it resolves

Regulation by time and propriety (kāla-niyama)

For your practice

Encourages vigilance about imitation and habit: keep actions within dharmic limits and consider downstream influence.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Didactic, observational, measured

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Social Norms
• Royal Duty
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• archers (dhanvin)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contextual propriety: actions are judged by role and timing (kāla). Rama highlights that even sanctioned royal practices are meant to be regulated, not indiscriminate.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama explains the cultural background of hunting as a regulated royal sport, valued by archers and imitated by others.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka)—Rama distinguishes between tradition, proper timing, and personal desire.