Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 27

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Devanagari script

स तु वेश्म पितुर्दूरात्कैलासशिखरप्रभम्।अभिचक्राम धर्मात्मा मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu veśma pitur dūrāt kailāsaśikharaprabham | abhicakrāma dharmātmā mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ ||

Translation

Но тот праведнодушный, могучий, как опьяневший слон, направился к дворцу отца, который издали сиял, словно вершина горы Кайласа.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• veśma: palace/house
• veśma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• dūrāt: from afar
• dūrāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाव/अव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverb): 'from a distance'

• kailāsa-śikhara-prabham: splendid like Kailasa's peak
• kailāsa-śikhara-prabham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of veśma; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'कैलासस्य शिखरस्य प्रभा यस्य तत्' (splendour like Kailasa-peak)

• abhicakrāma: approached/reached
• abhicakrāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√kram (क्रम्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• dharmātmā: the righteous-souled one
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'धर्मः आत्मा यस्य सः'

• matta-mātaṅga-vikramaḥ: one whose prowess is like an intoxicated elephant
• matta-mātaṅga-vikramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'मत्तमातङ्गस्य इव विक्रमो यस्य सः'

Context

Seeing Sumantra stricken with grief for the first time the magnanimous Rama, scion of the Ikshvaku dynasty, on the way to the forest waited there for his father to be informed of his arrival.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (implied as father)
• Kailāsa

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as disciplined action: despite inner turmoil around him, Rāma proceeds to his father in accordance with rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma nears Daśaratha’s splendid palace to meet him as events push toward the forest-exile decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strength under control—power described (elephant-like prowess) but directed toward duty, not rebellion.