Shloka 10

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

औपवाह्यं रथं युक्त्वा त्वमायाहि हयोत्तमैः।प्रापयैनं महाभागमितो जनपदात्परम्।।2.39.10।।

Transliteration

aupavāhyaṃ rathaṃ yuktvā tvam āyāhi hayottamaiḥ | prāpayainaṃ mahābhāgam ito janapadāt param || 2.39.10 ||

Translation

ప్రయాణయోగ్యమైన రథానికి ఉత్తమ అశ్వాలను కట్టి నీవు వెంటనే రా; ఈ మహాభాగుడైన రాముని ఇక్కడి నుండి జనపదసీమకు అవతలికి చేర్చు।

Word by Word

• औपवाह्यम्: fit for travel/for conveyance
• औपवाह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवाह्य (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित/विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रथम्)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युक्त्वा: having harnessed
• युक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having yoked/harnessed’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आयाहि: come
• आयाहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• हयोत्तमैः: with the best horses
• हयोत्तमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयभाव: उत्तमाः हयाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रापय: convey/bring
• प्रापय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to reach’)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; एनद्-आदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाभागम्: noble/fortunate
• महाभागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् भागः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक (ablatival adverb ‘from here’)

• जनपदात्: from the city/realm
• जनपदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम्: beyond/outside
• परम्: Gati (गति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (directional ‘beyond/outside’); गत्यर्थक

Context

Harness the finest horses to the chariot suitable for the journey, drive this magnanimous Rama to a place outside the city, and come back.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma
• chariot
• horses
• Ayodhyā (implied by janapada)

FAQs

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

Royal duty is executed through orderly command and responsible logistics: even painful decisions are carried out with procedural clarity, reflecting rajadharma and adherence to declared intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha instructs Sumantra to prepare a travel-ready chariot with excellent horses and to take Rāma beyond the inhabited area as the exile is being set in motion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of kingship and decisiveness in issuing commands (even amid inner conflict) is foregrounded.