Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Setting: Ayodhya (implied)Places named: राजभवन (royal palace)Movement from outside/approach to the royal palace (rajabhavana)

Devanagari script

इति सूतवच श्श्रुत्वा रामोऽथ त्वरयाऽन्वितः ।

प्रययौ राजभवनं पुनर्द्रष्टुं नरेश्वरम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.8

Transliteration

iti sūtavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo 'tha tvarayānvitaḥ |

prayayau rājabhavanaṃ punar draṣṭuṃ nareśvaram ||8||

Translation

सारथ्याचे वचन ऐकून राम त्वरित झाला; नरेश्वराचे पुनः दर्शन घ्यावे म्हणून तो राजभवनाकडे निघाला।

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Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक (quotative ‘thus’)
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• सूतवचः: of the charioteer’s words
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः सूतस्य वचः = सूतवचः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा, gerund)
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/afterwards)
• Role: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• त्वरया: with haste
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• अन्वितः: seized/possessed (by haste)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘endowed/possessed’
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)

• प्रययौ: departed/went
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• राजभवनम्: to the royal palace
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गत्यर्थक-लक्ष्य), एकवचन; समासः राज्ञः भवनम् = राजभवनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक (again)
• Role: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्, infinitive)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)

• नरेश्वरम्: the lord of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः नराणाम् ईश्वरः = नरेश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• सूतवच श्श्रुत्वा = सूतवचः + श्रुत्वा
• रामोऽथ = रामः + अथ
• त्वरयाऽन्वितः = त्वरया + अन्वितः
• पुनर्द्रष्टुम् = पुनः + द्रष्टुम्
• नरेश्वरम् = नर + ईश्वरम्

Context

On hearing the words of the charioteer, Rama immediately set out for the royal palace to see the king again.

The teaching

Prompt responsiveness to rightful summons—especially from elders and the king—upholds maryādā and social dharma.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / pitṛ-śuśrūṣā

For your practice

Practice of तत्क्षण-कर्तव्यता (immediate performance of duty) and attentive śravaṇa; cultivating readiness to serve dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Hurried, foreboding, dutiful

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Obedience to elders
• Promptness in duty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sumantra (sūta)
• Daśaratha (nareśvara)
• royal palace (rājabhavana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as prompt responsibility: Rāma responds swiftly to a royal/parental summons, modeling readiness to serve rightful authority.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sumantra conveys the king’s desire to see him, Rāma immediately goes to the palace to meet Daśaratha again.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s obedience and seriousness—he does not delay when duty calls.