Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.26 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 26

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स तूष्णीमेव तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा विभ्रान्तचेतनः।मूर्छितो न्यपतद्भूमौ रामशोकाभिपीडितः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tūṣṇīm eva tac chrutvā rājā vibhrāntacetanaḥ | mūrchito nyapatad bhūmau rāmaśokābhipīḍitaḥ ||

Translation

ആ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട രാജാവ് മൗനമായിരുന്നു; മനസ്സ് വിറച്ചു, രാമശോകം കൊണ്ട് പീഡിതനായി മൂർച്ചിതനായി ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു.

Word by Word

• सः: he (the king)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun ‘he’

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; मौनार्थक (silently)

• एव: only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (just/only)

• तत्: that (message)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of ‘śrutvā’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; having heard

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विभ्रान्तचेतनः: bewildered in mind
• विभ्रान्तचेतनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभ्रान्त + चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: विभ्रान्तं चेतनं यस्य (कर्मधारय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘राजा’

• मूर्छितः: fainted
• मूर्छितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छित (मूर्छ् धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘राजा’

• न्यपतत्: fell
• न्यपतत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; he fell down

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• रामशोकाभिपीडितः: tormented by grief for Rama
• रामशोकाभिपीडितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + शोक + अभिपीडित (पीड् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: रामस्य शोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन अभिपीडितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘राजा’

Context

The king silently listened to Rama's message. Bewildered and tormented by the grief of Rama's absence, he fell down on the ground in a swoon.

Characters & Entities

• Dasharatha
• Rama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the human cost that follows adharma-adjacent decisions and broken inner balance: Dasharatha’s collapse reflects how unrighteous actions and compelled promises can devastate family and ruler alike.

What is the narrative situation?

Dasharatha hears Sumantra’s report about Rama and is overwhelmed by sorrow, losing consciousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dasharatha’s deep affection for Rama—though here it appears as vulnerability and suffering rather than strength.