Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः | Kaikeyi Presses the Boons; Dasaratha’s Lament and Collapse

Devanagari script

तथैवोष्णं विनिश्वस्य वृद्धो दशरथो नृपः।।।।विललापार्तवद्युखं गगनासक्तलोचनः।

Transliteration

tathaivoṣṇaṃ viniśvasya vṛddho daśaratho nṛpaḥ |

vilalāpārtavad duḥkhaṃ gaganāsaktalocanaḥ |

Translation

అలాగే వేడివేడి నిట్టూర్పులు విడుస్తూ వృద్ధ నృపుడు దశరథుడు, ఆకాశంపై చూపు నిలిపి, వ్యాధిగ్రస్తుడిలా ఆర్తుడై తన దుఃఖాన్ని విలపించాడు।

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• uṣṇam: hotly; with hot breath
• uṣṇam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with viniśvasya

• viniśvasya: having heaved a sigh
• viniśvasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śvas (श्वस् धातु) with vi-
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ), ‘having sighed/heaved’

• vṛddhaḥ: aged
• vṛddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with daśarathaḥ

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nṛpaḥ: king
• nṛpaḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to daśarathaḥ

• vilalāpa: lamented
• vilalāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lap (लप् धातु) with vi-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• ārtavat: like one afflicted
• ārtavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ārtavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage of -vat (वत्) ‘like’; manner adverb

• duḥkham: grief
• duḥkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); internal object of lament

• gagana-āsakta-locanaḥ: with eyes fixed on the sky
• gagana-āsakta-locanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gagana + āsakta (आ + सञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose eyes are fixed on the sky’

Context

The old king Dasaratha, heaving hot sighs, started lamenting pitiably fixing his gaze at the sky like the sick:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sky

FAQs

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

Dharma is not abstract: its burdens are borne in the body and mind. The verse shows how a ruler’s pledged word and moral conflict can break human strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration lingers on Daśaratha’s physical and emotional collapse as he continues to grieve through the night.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s seriousness about obligation—his suffering indicates he recognizes the gravity of the situation rather than treating it lightly.