Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 18

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Devanagari script

स तमध्वानमैक्ष्वाकस्सूतं मधुरया गिरा।तं तमर्थमभिप्रेत्य ययौ वाक्यमुदीरयन्।।।।

Transliteration

sa tam adhvānam aikṣvākaḥ sūtaṁ madhurayā girā | taṁ tam artham abhipretya yayau vākyam udīrayan ||

Translation

Так князь рода Икшваку, обращаясь к возничему сладостным голосом, продолжал путь по той дороге, произнося слова, что поднимались в его сердце.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अध्वानम्: the road/journey
• अध्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ऐक्ष्वाकः: the Ikṣvāku prince (Rama)
• ऐक्ष्वाकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्ष्वाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); इक्ष्वाकुवंशज (descendant of Ikṣvāku)

• सूतम्: the charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• मधुरया: with sweet
• मधुरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विशेषणम् गिरा (qualifies 'speech')

• गिरा: with speech/words
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तम्: that very
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• अर्थम्: matter/intent
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अभिप्रेत्य: having intended/considered
• अभिप्रेत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + प्र + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत् (indeclinable); 'having intended/considered'

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• उदीरयन्: uttering
• उदीरयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. Sing.), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); कर्तरि (while uttering)

Context

Watching the villages furrowed at the outskirts, forests in blossom, hearing the gossips of the people living in the midst of villages, Rama felt he was moving very slowly whereas he had actually covered a long distance with those excellent (swift) horses.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Aikṣvāka)
• Ikṣvāku (dynastic reference)
• charioteer (sūta)

FAQs

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

Dharma is gentle truthfulness in conduct: Rama’s sweet, measured speech while proceeding on his path shows inner steadiness—right action joined with right speech.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration summarizes that Rama continues the journey, voicing his reflections to the charioteer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composed communication—Rama’s thoughts are expressed without harshness, showing calm leadership.