Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 19

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः · Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः ।

अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.57.19

Transliteration

āyatairvimalairnetrairaśruvegapariplutaiḥ |

anyonyamabhivīkṣante'vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ ||19||

Translation

Dengan mata yang besar dan jernih dibanjiri oleh gelora air mata, para wanita itu memandang sesama sendiri dalam keheningan, dengan duka yang tidak terucapkan.

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Word by Word

• आयतैः: with long/large
• आयतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (नेत्रैः इति सह), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• विमलैः: with clean/clear
• विमलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• नेत्रैः: with eyes
• नेत्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः: flooded by the rush of tears
• अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु + वेग + परिप्लुत (प्लु धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: अश्रूणां वेगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन परिप्लुतैः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘नेत्रैः’

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverbial accusative ‘mutually/each other’

• अभिवीक्षन्ते: they look (at)
• अभिवीक्षन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; they look at

• अव्यक्तम्: indistinctly, silently
• अव्यक्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverb ‘indistinctly/silently’

• आर्ततराः: more anguished
• आर्ततराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त + तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तर्तम-प्रत्यय (comparative): ‘more afflicted’

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Context

The women in great anguish stood silently looking at one another, their large eyesflooded with overflowing tears.

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the Dharma of shared grief and communal compassion. The women of Ayodhya, though not directly related to Rama, experience profound anguish at his exile, demonstrating that true righteousness inspires universal love. Their silent, mutual gaze reflects the Dharma of empathetic solidarity in times of collective suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra has returned to Ayodhya palace after leaving Rama in the forest. The women of the royal household and palace quarters, seeing the empty chariot and realizing Rama's departure, are overcome with grief. They stand in the palace courtyards, unable to speak, their tears flowing uncontrollably as they look at each other in shared sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes the virtue of karuna (compassion) and emotional authenticity. The women's grief is spontaneous and profound, showing that genuine virtue inspires love beyond formal relationships. Their silent anguish reflects the depth of their devotion to Rama and their capacity for empathetic suffering.