Valmiki Ramayana 2.15.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 18

अभिषेकसज्जा तथा सुमन्त्रस्य प्रेषणम्

Coronation Preparations and Sumantra’s Commission

Devanagari script

अयं पृच्छामि वचनात्सुखमायुष्मतामहम्।।2.15.18।।राज्ञः संप्रति बुद्धस्य यच्चागमनकारणम्।

Transliteration

ayaṃ pṛcchāmi vacanāt sukham āyuṣmatām aham || 2.15.18 ||

rājñaḥ saṃprati buddhasya yac cāgamanakāraṇam |

Translation

“Atas permintaan tuan-tuan, aku akan bertanya kepada baginda raja—yang kini telah sedar—tentang kesejahteraan baginda, dan juga sebab baginda memanggil (aku/perhimpunan ini).”

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (person)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पृच्छामि: I ask
• पृच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वचनात्: from (your) words; because of the statement
• वचनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• सुखम्: welfare; well-being
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आयुष्मताम्: of you long-lived (honored ones)
• आयुष्मताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (of the long-lived/you honored ones)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• संप्रति: now; at present
• संप्रति: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संप्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• बुद्धस्य: of (him) awakened/aware
• बुद्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √बुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आगमनकारणम्: the reason for (his) coming
• आगमनकारणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगमन + कारण (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आगमनस्य कारणम् = reason of coming)

Context

While the sovereign monarchs who hailed from different parts of the earth were thus talking Sumantra the king's confidant said:

FAQs

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

Dharma is truthful, responsible communication: Sumantra undertakes to verify the king’s welfare and intentions, ensuring that public action proceeds on clear and truthful information.

What is the narrative situation?

With the assembly waiting, Sumantra promises to approach the king and clarify both his condition and the purpose behind the summons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability and discretion: Sumantra acts as a careful intermediary who seeks facts before the ceremony proceeds.