Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 10

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

न ते शतशलाकेन जलफेननिभेन च।आवृतं वदनं वल्गु छत्रेणापि विराजते।।।।

Transliteration

na te śata-śalākena jala-phena-nibhena ca | āvṛtaṃ vadanaṃ valgu chatreṇāpi virājate ||

Translation

நீரின் நுரையைப் போன்ற வெண்மையான, நூறு கம்பிகள் கொண்ட குடையால் மூடப்பட்டிருந்தும், இன்று உமது மனோகர முகம் ஏன் ஒளிவிடவில்லை?

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (not)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; ‘your’

• śata-śalākena: with a hundred ribs
• śata-śalākena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + śalākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (śalākā), तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: शतं शलाकाः यस्य (with a hundred ribs/spokes)

• jala-phena-nibhena: like water-foam (white)
• jala-phena-nibhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + phena (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; chatra-विशेषण; समासः: जलफेन इव निभः (like water-foam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• āvṛtam: covered
• āvṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; vadana-विशेषण (covered)

• vadanam: face
• vadanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• valgu: charming
• valgu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: valgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; vadana-विशेषण

• chatreṇa: by an umbrella
• chatreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/also)

• virājate: shines/appears splendid
• virājate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

How is it that your charming face shines not today under a hundred-ribbed umbrella (white) like foam in water?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ayodhyā citizens (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly shows the cost of dharma: outward royal signs remain, yet the joy and radiance associated with rightful kingship are eclipsed by the injustice of exile.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma proceeds along the road, the people observe the absence of usual royal splendour and express grief that even the ceremonial umbrella cannot make his face appear as before.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-restraint and seriousness: his diminished ‘shine’ reflects inner resolve and the weight of duty, not a lack of majesty.