Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 17

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Devanagari script

राजर्षीणां हि लोकेऽस्मिन् रत्यर्थं मृगया वने ।

काले कृतां तां मनुजैर्घन्विनामभिकाङ्क्षिताम् ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.17

Transliteration

rājarṣīṇāṁ hi loke ’smin ratyarthaṁ mṛgayā vane |

kāle kṛtāṁ tāṁ manujair dhanvinām abhikāṅkṣitām ||17||

Translation

या लोकात राजर्षी रतीसाठी योग्य काळी वनात मृगया करतात; ही धनुर्धारकांना अभिप्रेत अशी क्रीडा असून नंतर इतर मनुष्यांनीही ती स्वीकारली आहे।

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Word by Word

• राजर्षीणाम्: of the royal sages
• राजर्षीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः राज + ऋषि (कर्मधारय)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/समर्थक (indeed/for)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रत्यर्थम्: for pleasure
• रत्यर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (Accusative used adverbially: 'for the sake of'), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); समासः रत्याः अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• मृगया: hunting
• मृगया: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); अत्र कर्मपदत्वेन (object as 'hunting')

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• काले: at the proper time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• कृताम्: done/undertaken
• कृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular); कर्मणि-भावः (done/undertaken)

• ताम्: that (hunting)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• मनुजैः: by men/people
• मनुजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• धन्विनाम्: of the bowmen
• धन्विनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अभिकाङ्क्षिताम्: desired/sought after
• अभिकाङ्क्षिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular); विशेषणम् ताम् (qualifies 'that')

Context

In this world, hunting in the woods is a pleasure for royal sages and is greatly sought after by bowmen. This was later resorted to by others.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• archers (dhanvin)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contextual propriety: actions are judged by role and timing (kāla). Rama highlights that even sanctioned royal practices are meant to be regulated, not indiscriminate.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama explains the cultural background of hunting as a regulated royal sport, valued by archers and imitated by others.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka)—Rama distinguishes between tradition, proper timing, and personal desire.