Valmiki Ramayana 2.63.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 18

दशरथस्य शोकानुचिन्तनं शब्धवेधि-दोषस्मरणं च

Daśaratha’s grief, karmic reflection, and the remembered ‘śabdavedhī’ misdeed

Devanagari script

पतितेनाम्भसाच्छन्नः पतमानेन चासकृत्।आबभौ मत्तसारङ्गस्तोयराशिरिवाचलः।।2.63.18।।

Transliteration

patitenāmbhasācchannaḥ patamānena cāsakṛt | ābabhau mattasāraṅgas toyarāśir ivācalaḥ || 2.63.18 ||

Translation

വീണ വെള്ളം മൂടിയും, തുടർച്ചയായി പതിക്കുന്ന ജലം വീണ്ടുംവീണ്ടും നനച്ചും, മത്തസാരംഗങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ ആ പർവ്വതം ജലരാശി കൂമ്പാരമായതുപോലെ ഭാസിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• patitena: by what had fallen
• patitena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used as adjective; Neuter/masc. Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with ambhasā (instrumental sense: ‘by fallen (water)’)

• ambhasā: with water (rainwater)
• ambhasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• channaḥ: covered
• channaḥ: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chad (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of acalaḥ

• patamānena: by (water) falling
• patamānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by (water) falling’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• asakṛt: repeatedly/ceaselessly
• asakṛt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनःपुनरर्थक-अव्यय)

• ābabhau: shone/appeared
• ābabhau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• matta-sāraṅgaḥ: an intoxicated antelope
• matta-sāraṅgaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + sāraṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: मत्तः स एव सारङ्गः; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• toya-rāśiḥ: a mass/heap of water
• toya-rāśiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): तोयस्य राशिः; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• acalaḥ: the mountain
• acalaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Although pure, the rapidly flowing water from the mountains mixed with the minerals in the soil turned white and red in colour and flowed like a serpent.

Characters & Entities

• Mountain (acala)

FAQs

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

Dharma is living with awareness of change: the world transforms rapidly, and ethical action requires steadiness and mindfulness amid shifting conditions.

What is the narrative situation?

The monsoon intensifies; rainfall is so continuous that the mountain appears like a body of water.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and discernment—needed to avoid rash action when sensory conditions (sound of water, movement) can mislead.