Shloka 31

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

देव यस्या भयाद्रामं नानुपृच्छसि सारथिम्।नेह तिष्ठिति कैकेयी विस्रब्धं प्रतिभाष्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

deva yasyā bhayād rāmaṃ nānupṛcchasi sārathim | neha tiṣṭhati kaikeyī visrabdhaṃ pratibhāṣyatām ||

Translation

ഹേ ദേവാ (മഹാരാജാ), ആരുടെ ഭയത്താൽ നിങ്ങൾ സാരഥിയോട് രാമനെക്കുറിച്ച് ചോദിക്കാത്തുവോ, ആ കൈകേയി ഇപ്പോൾ ഇവിടെ ഇല്ല; ആശങ്കയില്ലാതെ സ്വതന്ത്രമായി സംസാരിക്കൂ.

Word by Word

• देव: O king/lord
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• यस्याः: of whom/whose
• यस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun; Genitive singular

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (topic/object of enquiry)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अनुपृच्छसि: you inquire (about)
• अनुपृच्छसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सारथिम्: charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• इह: here/now
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विस्रब्धम्: confidently/without fear
• विस्रब्धम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्रब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• प्रतिभाष्यताम्: speak/respond
• प्रतिभाष्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; passive-style polite imperative ('let it be spoken/please speak')

Context

Kaikeyi for fear of whom you dare not ask the charioteer about Rama, O king! is not here. You may speak to him without fear.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalya
• Dasharatha
• Rama
• Sumantra (sārathi)
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Moral agency through truthful inquiry: Kausalya urges Dasharatha to seek facts directly and speak without fear, implying that dharma requires clarity and courage.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya points out that Kaikeyi is absent and urges Dasharatha to question Sumantra openly about Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalya’s fearlessness and insistence on transparent speech in a politically charged household.