Shloka 22

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः

Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments

Devanagari script

इत्येवं विलपन् राजा जनौघेनाभिसंवृतः।अपस्नात इवारिष्टं प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

ity evaṃ vilapan rājā janaughenābhisaṃvṛtaḥ |

apasnāta ivāriṣṭaṃ praviveśa purottamam ||

Translation

Demikianlah raja meratap, dikepung oleh lautan manusia, lalu memasuki kota yang utama; rupanya bagaikan orang yang baru menjalani mandi pertanda sial, seolah-olah ditandai oleh malapetaka yang mendatang.

Word by Word

इतिthus

एवम्in this manner

विलपन्lamenting

राजाthe king

जनौघेनby the multitude of people

अभिसंवृतःsurrounded

अपस्नातःone who has taken an inauspicious bath

इवlike

अरिष्टम्an ill-omen/inauspicious state

प्रविवेशentered

पुरोत्तमम्the best city

Context

Thus the king, who looked like one after the inauspicious (funeral) bath, surroundedby streams of people entered the most beautiful city (Ayodhya) which portended misfortune.

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

A ruler’s private unrighteous crisis becomes a public wound: dharma links king and kingdom, so the monarch’s moral and emotional collapse signals disorder for society.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha returns into Ayodhyā after the irreversible decision of Rāma’s exile, and the city’s mood mirrors the king’s grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The people’s solidarity and concern are emphasized—they gather around the king, reflecting civic loyalty and shared sorrow.