Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 18

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

हर्म्यै र्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्याथ समागतम्।हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामदर्शनकर्शिताः।।।।

Transliteration

harmyaiḥ vimānaiḥ prāsādair avekṣyātha samāgatam |

hāhākārakṛtā nāryo rāmadarśanakarśitāḥ ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് മാളികകളിലും വിമാനംപോലെ ഉയർന്ന ഭവനങ്ങളിലും പ്രാസാദങ്ങളിലും നിന്ന് താഴേക്ക് നോക്കിയ സ്ത്രീകൾ അവൻ വന്നെത്തുന്നത് കണ്ടു; രാമദർശനം ലഭിക്കാത്ത ദുഃഖത്തിൽ അവർ വിലാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• हर्म्यैः: by/with mansions
• हर्म्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (by/with)

• विमानैः: by/with aerial mansions (multi-storied buildings)
• विमानैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• प्रासादैः: by/with palaces
• प्रासादैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• अवेक्ष्य: having seen
• अवेक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; having seen/after seeing

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (then/thereafter)

• समागतम्: the one who had arrived / the arrival
• समागतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP used adjectivally; ‘arrived/come’ (object of ‘having seen’)

• हाहाकारकृताः: having made a wail (‘alas!’)
• हाहाकारकृताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हाहाकार + कृत (कृ धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: हाहाकारं कृताः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; object + PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘नार्यः’

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• रामदर्शनकर्शिताः: distressed due to (lack of) seeing Rama
• रामदर्शनकर्शिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + दर्शन + कर्शित (कर्श् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: रामस्य दर्शनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन कर्शिताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘नार्यः’

Context

Women from mansions, seven-storied buildings and from royal palaces, sighted him and pained at not seeing Rama cried out 'Alas, Alas!'.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• women of the palace
• vimāna (lofty building)
• prāsāda (palace)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to truth and consequence: Rāma’s righteous exile produces real social sorrow, showing how adherence to dharma can entail painful sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra’s return signals to the palace women that Rāma is not with him, triggering a collective cry of grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion and love: the women’s anguish reflects deep attachment and reverence for Rāma.