Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.5 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 5

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

तत स्सायाह्न समये तृतीयेऽहनि सारथिः।अयोध्यां समनुप्राप्य निरानन्दां ददर्श ह।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sāyāhna-samaye tṛtīye 'hani sārathiḥ |

ayodhyāṁ samanuprāpya nirānandāṁ dadarśa ha ||

Translation

Então, ao entardecer do terceiro dia, o cocheiro chegou a Ayodhyā e viu a cidade despojada de alegria.

Word by Word

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• सायाह्न: evening
• सायाह्न: Kala (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyāhna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे समये इति सह; अत्र समासपूर्वपदवत् (evening)

• समये: at the time
• समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तृतीये: on the third
• तृतीये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अहनि विशेषयति)

• अहनि: day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (गति/कर्म), एकवचन

• समनुप्राप्य: having arrived at
• समनुप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + anu + prāp (प्राप्-धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having reached)

• निरानन्दाम्: joyless
• निरानन्दाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अयोध्याम् विशेषयति)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्-धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ह: indeed (particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक निपात (expletive particle)

Context

Beholding the fragrance-filled forests, rivers, lakes, villages and towns on the way, Sumantra quickly crossed them.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the communal cost of dharma-bound decisions: Rāma’s truthful adherence to duty results in collective sorrow, showing how righteousness can demand sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra arrives back in Ayodhyā after escorting Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa toward exile, and he finds the capital plunged into grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-aligned acceptance (satya-niṣṭhā) is implied: the city’s sorrow arises because Rāma does not deviate from the truth-bound course of exile.