Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 24

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

पूर्वां दिशं वज्रधरो दक्षिणां पातु ते यमः।वरुणः पश्चिमामाशां धनेशस्तूत्तरां दिशम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.24

Transliteration

pūrvāṁ diśaṁ vajradharo dakṣiṇāṁ pātu te yamaḥ |

varuṇaḥ paścimām āśāṁ dhaneśas tūttarāṁ diśam || 2.16.24 ||

Translation

கிழக்கில் வஜ்ரதரன் (இந்திரன்) உன்னை காக்கட்டும்; தெற்கில் யமன்; மேற்கில் வருணன்; வடக்கில் தனேசன் (குபேரன்) உன்னைப் பாதுகாக்கட்டும்.

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Word by Word

• pūrvām: eastern
• pūrvām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies diśam

• diśam: direction/quarter
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• vajradharaḥ: Vajradhara (Indra)
• vajradharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: vajram dharati iti

• dakṣiṇām: southern
• dakṣiṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies (implied) diśam

• pātu: may protect
• pātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्) Imperative/benedictive sense, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana

• te: your/of you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana (genitive)

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• varuṇaḥ: Varuna
• varuṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• paścimām: western
• paścimām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies āśām

• āśām: quarter/direction
• āśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• dhaneśaḥ: Kubera (lord of wealth)
• dhaneśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: dhanasya īśaḥ

• tu: and/but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Virodha/avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: 'but/and then')

• uttarām: northern
• uttarām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies diśam

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

Context

May Indra protect you on the east, Yama in the south, Varuna in the west and Kubera in the north.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Vajradhara)
• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Kubera (Dhaneśa)
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through maṅgala-āśīḥ (auspicious blessing): invoking cosmic guardians reflects the belief that righteous action proceeds under divine order and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā offers a directional protection-blessing to Rāma as he is about to depart.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s benevolence and devotional propriety—she responds to duty-bound movement with prayerful protection rather than anxiety.