Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 14

दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि

विधानम् — Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning

Devanagari script

शिबिकायामथा़ऽरोप्य राजानं गतचेतसम्।बाष्पकण्ठा विमनसस्तमूहुः परिचारकाः।।2.76.14।।

Transliteration

śibikāyām athāropya rājānaṁ gata-cetasam | bāṣpa-kaṇṭhā vimanasaḥ tam ūhuḥ paricārakāḥ || 2.76.14 ||

Translation

பின்னர் பணியாளர்கள் உயிரற்ற அரசனை சிபிகையில் ஏற்றி, மனம் துயருற்று கண்ணீரால் தொண்டை அடைத்தபடி அவனைத் தூக்கிச் சென்றனர்।

Word by Word

• शिबिकायाम्: on the litter/palanquin
• शिबिकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिबिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (sequence marker: ‘then/thereupon’)

• आरोप्य: having placed
• आरोप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), causative sense in usage: ‘having placed/caused to mount’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गतचेतसम्: lifeless/unconscious (departed in mind)
• गतचेतसम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम्) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: गतं चेतः यस्य/गतचेतस् (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्; रूपतः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-आधार); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; राजानम् इति विशेषण

• बाष्पकण्ठाः: with throats choked with tears
• बाष्पकण्ठाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बाष्पेण कण्ठः यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; परिचारकाः इति विशेषण

• विमनसः: dejected
• विमनसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; परिचारकाः इति विशेषण

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; राजानम् इत्यस्य निर्देश

• ऊहुः: carried
• ऊहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; √वह् → ऊहुः (अभ्यास/वृद्धि-रूप)

• परिचारकाः: attendants
• परिचारकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Thereafter the attendants raised the mortal remains of the deceased king onto a litter, with dejected minds, throats choked with tears and carried him away.

Characters & Entities

• King Daśaratha (rājā, implied)
• Śibikā (bier/palanquin)

FAQs

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

Dharma honors the dead with dignified rites; even while grieving, one performs compassionate service and maintains communal respect for the departed.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha’s body is placed on a bier and carried by attendants as the funeral procession begins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyal service (sevā) and reverence—attendants fulfill their duty despite overwhelming sorrow.