Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.27: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 27

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

अदृष्टदुःखं राजानं वृद्धमार्यं जितेन्द्रियम् ।

ब्रूयास्त्वमभिवाद्यैव मम हेतोरिदं वचः ॥२७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.27

Transliteration

adṛṣṭaduḥkhaṃ rājānaṃ vṛddham āryaṃ jitendriyam |

brūyās tvam abhivādyaiva mama hetoḥ idaṃ vacaḥ ||27||

Translation

Setelah terlebih dahulu menyembah hormat, sampaikanlah bagi pihakku kata-kata ini kepada baginda raja—yang tua, mulia, menakluk indera, dan belum pernah mengenal dukacita.

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Word by Word

• adṛṣṭa-duḥkham: who has not experienced sorrow
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dṛṣṭa (√dṛś धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam; 'one who has not seen sorrow'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rājānam: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vṛddham: old
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āryam: noble, venerable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• jita-indriyam: self-controlled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (√ji धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying rājānam; 'one whose senses are conquered'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• brūyāḥ: you should tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• tvam: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• abhivādya: having paid respects
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi√vad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययीभाववत्), 'having saluted'
• Role: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)

• eva: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• mama: of me; my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• hetoḥ: for the sake (of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; idiomatically 'for my sake/on my behalf'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• idam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of brūyāḥ
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vacaḥ: words, message
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (vacaḥ as 2nd sg. n.); apposition to idam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• brūyāstvam = brūyāḥ + tvam
• abhivādyaiva = abhivādya + eva
• hetoridaṃ = hetoḥ + idam

Context

After offering your salutations, tell these words, on my behalf, to the king who is respectable, bent with age and who has conquered his senses and never experienced any sorrow before.

The teaching

Even painful messages must be delivered with proper reverence; etiquette is itself a form of dharma.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma (conduct)

For your practice

Cultivation of humility and right speech; treating elders as worthy of worship through respectful approach.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Respectful, measured, grave

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Respect for elders
• Filial duty
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as reverence (abhivādana) and truthful communication delivered respectfully to elders and rulers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Sumantra to convey a message to Daśaratha with proper courtly and familial etiquette.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and propriety (vinaya, maryādā) in speech and conduct.