Shloka 9

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सुमन्त्रमभियान्तं तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।क्व राम इति पृच्छन्तस्सूतमभ्यद्रवन्नराः।।।।

Transliteration

sumantram abhiyāntaṁ taṁ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ |

kva rāma iti pṛcchantaḥ sūtam abhyadravan narāḥ ||

Translation

സുമന്ത്രൻ മുന്നോട്ടു നീങ്ങുമ്പോൾ, നൂറുകളായും ആയിരങ്ങളായും ആളുകൾ സാരഥിയായ സൂതനെ ചുറ്റി ഓടിവന്ന്— “രാമൻ എവിടെയാണ്?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सुमन्त्रम्: Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of approaching)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन)

• अभियान्तम्: approaching
• अभियान्तम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi√yā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one who is coming/approaching’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• शतशः: in hundreds
• शतशः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), distributive adverb ‘by hundreds’

• अथ: then; thereafter
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक)

• सहस्रशः: in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), distributive adverb ‘by thousands’

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), interrogative adverb

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Vishaya (विषयः/asked-about)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन)

• इति: thus (saying)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative marker

• पृच्छन्तः: asking; inquiring
• पृच्छन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√ch (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सूतम्: the charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of running towards)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन)

• अभ्यद्रवन्: ran towards; rushed
• अभ्यद्रवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√dru (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• नराः: men; people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

Absorbed in these thoughts, the charioteer came to the city-gate, carried by the swift-footed horses, and quickly entered the city.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Ayodhyā (implied populace)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as collective moral dependence on a righteous leader: the people’s urgent question reflects how society seeks stability in the presence of virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā’s citizens surround Sumantra as he returns, desperate for news of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public devotion and loyalty to righteousness, embodied in their longing for Rāma.