Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 9

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53): Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhya (implied court context)

Devanagari script

इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम् ।

काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.9

Transliteration

idaṃ vyasanam ālokya rājñaś ca mativibhramam |

kāma evārthadharmābhyāṃ garīyān iti me matiḥ ||9||

Translation

Melihat malapetaka ini serta kekeliruan pertimbangan baginda raja, pada hematku nafsu keinginanlah yang ternyata lebih berat daripada harta dan dharma (kebenaran).

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Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• व्यसनम्: calamity, misfortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आलोक्य: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having seen’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)

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

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)

• मतिविभ्रमम्: confusion/aberration of mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: मतेः विभ्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• कामः: desire, passion
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• एव: alone, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (only/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• अर्थधर्माभ्याम्: than artha and dharma (wealth and righteousness)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + धर्म (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अर्थश्च धर्मश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; तुलना/अपेक्षा (in comparison with)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• गरीयान्: stronger, weightier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरियस्/गुरु (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)

• मे: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• मतिः: opinion, thought
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• व्यसनमालोक्य = व्यसनम् + आलोक्य
• राज्ञश्च = राज्ञः + च
• मतिविभ्रमम् = मति + विभ्रमम्
• काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां = कामः + एव + अर्थधर्माभ्याम्
• गरीयानिति = गरीयान् + इति
• मे मतिः = मे + मतिः

Context

Reflecting on the calamity and mental aberration of the king, I think passion is stronger than wealth and righteousness.

The teaching

When desire eclipses discernment, even artha and dharma are made secondary; mastery of mind is prerequisite for righteous rule.

Duties in tension

• Personal attachment/desire (kāma) vs kingly righteousness (rājadharma)
• Keeping boons/promises vs protecting heir and public welfare

Ethical theme

Rājadharma; self-mastery (indriya-nigraha)

How it resolves

Unresolved/diagnostic (ethical judgment stated)

For your practice

Daily reflection (svādhyāya) on kāma’s power; cultivate viveka and restraint to protect dharma in decision-making.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Disillusioned, grave, morally alarmed

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Philosophical reflection
• Kāma vs dharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha (king, implied)
• kāma
• artha
• dharma

FAQs

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

Unchecked desire can overpower both material prudence (artha) and moral law (dharma); therefore dharma demands mastery over kāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma interprets the exile crisis as evidence of how desire can distort judgment even in a king, leading to disaster.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral insight and detachment: Rāma uses suffering as a lens to understand human weakness, rather than to seek revenge.