Shloka 9

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

संज्ञां तु प्रतिलभ्यैव मुहूर्तात्स महीपतिः।नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.39.9।।

Transliteration

saṃjñāṃ tu pratilabhyaiva muhūrtāt sa mahīpatiḥ | netrābhyām aśru-pūrṇābhyāṃ sumantram idam abravīt || 2.39.9 ||

Translation

Setelah sedar kembali seketika, raja—dengan mata bergenang air mata—berkata demikian kepada Sumantra.

Word by Word

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness/senses
• संज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• प्रतिलभ्य: having regained
• प्रतिलभ्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having regained’

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

• मुहूर्तात्: after a moment
• मुहूर्तात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; काल-अपादान (after a moment)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नेत्राभ्याम्: with (his) two eyes
• नेत्राभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• अश्रुपूर्णाभ्याम्: filled with tears
• अश्रुपूर्णाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अश्रुभिः पूर्ण); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of नेत्राभ्याम्)

• सुमन्त्रम्: to Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Unless the destined hour arrives, life does not leave the body. Therefore, even though I am tormented by Kaikeyi and even after seeing my son, standing before me, (bright) like fire, taking off his fine clothes and wearing the robes of an ascetic my end does not come.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Composure returning to duty: even amid grief, a ruler must recover presence of mind to communicate and act responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha briefly loses composure, then regains awareness and addresses his minister-charioteer Sumantra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resilience and responsibility—Daśaratha attempts to continue governance and communication despite emotional collapse.