Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 18

अयोध्यायां शोकविलापः

Lamentation in Ayodhya after Daśaratha’s death

Devanagari script

हा महाराज रामेण सततं प्रियवादिना।विहीनास्सत्यसन्धेन किमर्थं विजहासि नः।।।।

Transliteration

hā mahārāja rāmeṇa satataṃ priyavādinā |

vihīnāḥ satyasandhena kimarthaṃ vijahāsi naḥ ||

Translation

அய்யோ மகாராஜா! எப்போதும் இனிய மொழி பேசும், சத்தியவிரதன் ராமனை இழந்தோம்; இப்போது நீங்களும் எங்களை ஏன் கைவிடுகிறீர்கள்?

Word by Word

• हा: alas
• हा: Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शोकसूचक-निपात (interjection)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा+राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great king)

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु; by/with Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक (always)

• प्रियवादिना: by the sweet-speaking one
• प्रियवादिना: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु; qualifier of रामेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय+वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (one who speaks pleasantly)

• विहीनाः: deprived
• विहीनाः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+ही (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate: ‘deprived’)

• सत्यसन्धेन: by the truth-keeping one
• सत्यसन्धेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु; qualifier of रामेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य+सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (true-to-his-promise)

• किमर्थम्: why
• किमर्थम्: Hetu-prashna (हेतु-प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम्+अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: for what reason)

• विजहासि: do you abandon/leave
• विजहासि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नः: us
• नः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) वा द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचन-रूप (enclitic); अत्र कर्मरूपेण (us)

Context

When we were already deprived of Rama who was always pleasing and truthful, alas, o great king, why did you leave us?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse elevates satya as a living virtue through Rāma’s epithet satyasandha (“steadfast in truth”). It also portrays the social consequence of dharmic leadership: when the truthful protector is absent, the community feels unguarded.

What is the narrative situation?

In mourning, the women address the deceased king, saying that after losing Rāma to exile, the king’s death feels like a second abandonment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya (truthfulness/faithfulness to vows) and priyavāditā (gentle speech), presented as virtues that sustain the people.