Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 20

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

ततो दशरथस्त्रीणां प्रासादेभ्य स्तत स्ततः।रामशोकाभितप्तानां मन्दं शुश्राव जल्पितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tato daśarathastrīṇāṃ prāsādebhyaḥ tataḥ tataḥ |

rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ mandaṃ śuśrāva jalpitam ||

Translation

ततः स दशरथस्त्रीणां प्रासादेभ्यः क्वचित्क्वचित् । रामशोकाभितप्तानां मन्दं जल्पितमश्रुणोत् ॥

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनुक्रमवाचक (then)

• दशरथस्त्रीणाम्: of Dasaratha’s wives
• दशरथस्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: दशरथस्य स्त्रियः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• प्रासादेभ्यः: from palaces
• प्रासादेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), बहुवचन; Ablative plural ‘from’

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिश/स्थानवाचक (from there/thereupon)

• ततः: from various places
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः ‘here and there’

• रामशोकाभितप्तानाम्: of those scorched by grief for Rama
• रामशोकाभितप्तानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + शोक + अभितप्त (तप् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: रामस्य शोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन अभितप्तानाम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्त्रीणाम् इति सह), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘दशरथस्त्रीणाम्’

• मन्दम्: softly, faintly
• मन्दम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन; adverb ‘softly/faintly’

• शुश्राव: heard
• शुश्राव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; he heard

• जल्पितम्: utterance, murmuring
• जल्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल्पित (जल्प् धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used substantively ‘speech/utterance’ (what was spoken)

Context

From different spots in the palace, Sumantra heard the sobs and whispers of Dasaratha's wives who were tormented with the sorrow of Rama's exile.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra (implied as hearer)
• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through truthful acknowledgment of suffering: the palace does not hide grief, indicating that satya includes facing the human cost of righteous vows and decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

As Sumantra moves within the palace, he hears the subdued lamentations of the queens grieving over Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate sensitivity: Sumantra’s attention to their quiet speech reflects empathy within service.