Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.34: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 34

तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

तत स्समास्थाय रथं महारथः ससारथिर्दाशरथिर्वनं ययौ ।

उदङ्मुखं तं तु रथं चकार स प्रयाणमाङ्गल्य निमित्तदर्शनात् ॥३४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.34

Transliteration

tataḥ samāsthāya rathaṃ mahārathaḥ sasārathir dāśarathir vanaṃ yayau |

udaṅmukhaṃ taṃ tu rathaṃ cakāra sa prayāṇa-māṅgalya-nimitta-darśanāt ||34||

Translation

అనంతరం మహారథి దాశరథి తన సారథితో కూడ రథమెక్కి వనమునకు బయలుదేరెను. ప్రయాణమంగళ సూచక నిమిత్తములు కనబడగానే సుమంత్రుడు రథమును ఉత్తరాభిముఖంగా తిప్పెను॥

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Word by Word

• prabhātāyām: at dawn / when it dawned
• prabhātāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhātā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; time-locative

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• śarvaryām: in the night
• śarvaryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular; time-locative

• paurāḥ: citizens
• paurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to paurāḥ

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) governing accusative

• śokopahata-niśceṣṭāḥ: stunned, struck by grief
• śokopahata-niśceṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-upahata-niśceṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies paurāḥ

• babhūvuḥ: became
• babhūvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• hata-cetasaḥ: dejected / bereft of sense
• hata-cetasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata-cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies paurāḥ

Context

As it augurs well to travel north Sumantra placed the chariot in that direction. Thereafter that great charioteer, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana boarded the chariot and departed.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣaṭcatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Dasharathi)
• Sumantra
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as orderly, auspicious conduct (maryādā): even in exile, actions are performed with attentiveness to proper signs and disciplined procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

The party departs Ayodhyā; Sumantra turns the chariot northward, considering it auspicious for travel and consistent with the plan to misdirect citizens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive stewardship—Sumantra’s careful driving reflects responsible service and adherence to traditional norms regarding omens.