Shloka 1

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

रामस्य तु वचः शृत्वा मुनिवेशधरं च तम्।समीक्ष्य सह भार्याभी राजा विगतचेतनः।।2.39.1।।नैनं दुःखेन सन्तप्तः प्रत्यवैक्षत राघवम्।न चैनमभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रत्यभाषत दुर्मनाः।।2.39.2।।

Transliteration

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā muniveśadharaṃ ca tam | samīkṣya saha bhāryābhi rājā vigatacetanaḥ || 2.39.1 ||

na enaṃ duḥkhena santaptaḥ pratyavaikṣata rāghavam | na cainam abhisamprekṣya pratyabhāṣata durmanāḥ || 2.39.2 ||

Translation

రాముని మాటలు విని, ఆయన మునివేషధారిగా ఉన్నదాన్ని చూచి, రాజు భార్యలతో కూడి స్పృహ కోల్పోయెను. దుఃఖంతో దగ్ధుడై, విషణ్ణుడైన దశరథుడు రాఘవుని చూడలేకపోయెను; చూచినప్పటికీ ప్రత్యుత్తరం పలుకలేకపోయెను।

Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पक्षान्तरे (particle; ‘but/indeed’)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having heard’

• मुनिवेशधरम्: wearing an ascetic’s garb
• मुनिवेशधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मुनिवेशस्य धरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समीक्ष्य: having beheld
• समीक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having looked at/observed’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे (preposition/adverb ‘together with’), तृतीया-सहचर्य (governs instrumental)

• भार्याभिः: with (his) wives
• भार्याभिः: Sahakarana (सहकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विगतचेतनः: unconscious/senseless
• विगतचेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विगता चेतना यस्य/विगत-चेतन); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

After hearing Rama and beholding him in the robes of an ascetic, Dasaratha and his wives fell unconscious. With his body and mind afflicted with grief, Dasaratha could not look Rama in the face nor could he make a reply.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the human cost of dharma-bound decisions: even righteous adherence to truth can produce unbearable grief, testing the moral and emotional endurance of leaders and families.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma has assumed ascetic dress for exile; Daśaratha, overwhelmed, collapses with his queens and becomes unable to meet Rāma’s gaze or speak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s renunciant resolve is implied by the ascetic garb, while Daśaratha’s paternal attachment and vulnerability are foregrounded through his collapse.