Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 23

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सत्यरूपं तु तद्वाक्यं राज्ञ: स्त्रीणां निशामयन्।प्रदीप्तमिव शोकेन विवेश सहसा गृहम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.57.23

Transliteration

satyarūpaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ rājñaḥ strīṇāṃ niśāmayan |

pradīptam iva śokena viveśa sahasā gṛham ||

Translation

सत्यरूपं तु तद्वाक्यं राज्ञः स्त्रीणां निशामयन् । प्रदीप्तमिव शोकेन विवेश सहसा गृहम् ॥

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Word by Word

• सत्यरूपम्: truthful in nature
• सत्यरूपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: सत्यं रूपं यस्य/सत्यरूपम् (कर्मधारय); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘वाक्यम्’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun qualifying ‘वाक्यम्’

• वाक्यम्: statement, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of ‘niśāmayan’)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular ‘of the king’

• स्त्रीणाम्: of the wives
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• निशामयन्: hearing, taking note of
• निशामयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + शम्/शमय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘while hearing/observing’

• प्रदीप्तम्: burning, blazing
• प्रदीप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दीप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘गृहम्’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (as if/like)

• शोकेन: with grief
• शोकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘with/by grief’

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; he entered

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शीघ्रार्थक (suddenly/immediately)

• गृहम्: house, chamber
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of ‘entered’)

Context

Listening to the correct words of the king's wives, he immediately entered the palace as if in flames (of grief).

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Satya is presented as undeniable reality: truthful words about suffering compel action, and dharma requires responding to truth rather than avoiding it.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra, hearing the queens’ truthful lament, proceeds immediately further inside to the king, entering a space heavy with grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage to face painful truth: Sumantra does not retreat from the sorrowful atmosphere but moves toward his duty.