Valmiki Ramayana 2.65.1-2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65, Shlokas 1-2

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Death Discovered in the Palace

Morning Rites Turn to Lament

Devanagari script

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि ।

वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम् ॥१॥

सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः ।

गायकाः स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.65.1-2

Transliteration

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ prātarevāpare 'hani |

vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṃs tat pārthiva-niveśanam ||1||

sūtāḥ paramasaṃskārā maṅgalāś cottamaśrutāḥ |

gāyakāḥ stutiśīlāś ca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak ||2||

Translation

ആ രാത്രി കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, അടുത്ത ദിവസം പ്രഭാതത്തിൽ വന്ദിനർ രാജനിവാസത്തിൽ എത്തി. ഉത്തമസംസ്കാരമുള്ള സൂതന്മാരും, മംഗളവചനങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിക്കുന്ന ശ്രുതിജ്ഞ വംശാവലിപാഠകരും, സ്തുതിയിൽ നിപുണരായ ഗായകരും ഒരോരുത്തരായി വന്നു, വേർവേറായി ആശീർവാദവചനങ്ങൾ പാടിത്തുടങ്ങി.

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Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereafter
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/thereafter)

• रात्र्याम्: in the night
• रात्र्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• व्यतीतायाम्: having passed
• व्यतीतायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः: locative absolute sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अति + इ (धातु) → व्यतीत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; रात्र्याम् इति विशेषणम्

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय/कालवाचक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• अपरे: on the following
• अपरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; अहनि इति विशेषणम् (on the other/next)

• अहनि: day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• वन्दिनः: panegyrists/bards
• वन्दिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• पर्युपातिष्ठन्: stood by/attended
• पर्युपातिष्ठन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + उप + स्था (धातु) → पर्युपतिष्ठ् (धातु) (तिङन्त)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म) (विशेषणरूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; निवेशनम् इति विशेषणम्

• पार्थिव: of the king/royal
• पार्थिव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (genitival sense) अव्ययभावेन/सम्बोधनवत् प्रयोगः; अत्र ‘राज्ञः’ इत्यर्थे (king's)

• निवेशनम्: residence/palace
• निवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Context

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā (implied palace)
• Sūta (bards/genealogists)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through social duty and courtly order: those appointed to bless and praise the king arrive punctually, sustaining the kingdom’s ceremonial rhythm—even as unseen truth (satya) has already changed everything.

What is the narrative situation?

The next morning, professional panegyrists, bards, and singers come to the palace to perform their customary praises, unaware that Daśaratha has died.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and role-based responsibility: the court performers fulfill their assigned function with learning, auspicious speech, and orderly conduct.