Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः

Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Devanagari script

अवष्टब्धं च मे राम नक्षत्रं दारुणैर्ग्रहैः।आवेदयन्ति दैवज्ञाः सूर्याङ्गारकराहुभिः।।2.4.18।।

Transliteration

avaṣṭabdhaṁ ca me rāma nakṣatraṁ dāruṇair grahaiḥ | āvedayanti daivajñāḥ sūryāṅgārakarāhubhiḥ || 2.4.18 ||

Translation

Dan, wahai Rāma, bintang kelahiranku telah ditekan oleh planet-planet yang dahsyat. Para ahli nujum melaporkan bahawa Surya, Mangala dan Rāhu sedang menimpanya.

Word by Word

• avaṣṭabdham: afflicted / obstructed
• avaṣṭabdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-ṣṭambh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of nakṣatram)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• nakṣatram: (birth) star
• nakṣatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dāruṇaiḥ: by dreadful
• dāruṇaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of grahaiḥ)

• grahaiḥ: by planets
• grahaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• āvēdayanti: report / declare
• āvēdayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• daivajñāḥ: astrologers
• daivajñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• sūryāṅgāraka-rāhubhiḥ: by the Sun, Mars, and Rahu
• sūryāṅgāraka-rāhubhiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgāraka (प्रातिपदिक) + rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

Context

O Rama! astrologers also tell me that formidable planets Sun, Mars and Rahu have afflicted my birth star.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Sūrya
• Aṅgāraka (Maṅgala/Mars)
• Rāhu
• nakṣatra (birth star)

FAQs

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

Accountability under uncertainty: even when fate seems adverse, one must act within dharma—seeking orderly, rightful decisions rather than panic or injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha cites astrological warnings as part of the ominous atmosphere preceding the planned installation of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s conscientiousness—he consults learned advisors and weighs signs affecting the realm.