Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.58: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 58

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Sumantra to RamaPlaces named: पथि (the path/road), वने (implied by context)Standing on the route taken by Rama toward exile

Devanagari script

भृत्यवत्सल तिष्ठन्तं भर्तृपुत्रगते पथि ।

भक्तं भृत्यं स्थितं स्थित्यां त्वं न मां हातुमर्हसि ॥५८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.58

Transliteration

bhṛtyavatsala tiṣṭhantaṃ bhartṛputragate pathi |

bhaktaṃ bhṛtyaṃ sthitaṃ sthityāṃ tvaṃ na māṃ hātum arhasi ||58||

Translation

హే భృత్యవత్సల! నా ప్రభువు కుమారుడైన మీ మార్గంలో నేను నిలిచియున్నాను. నేను మీ భక్త సేవకుడను, ధర్మంలో స్థిరుడను; నన్ను విడిచిపెట్టుట మీకు తగదు।

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Word by Word

• bhṛtya-vatsala: O servant-loving one
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (bhṛtyeṣu vatsalaḥ = 'affectionate to servants'); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 8 (सम्बोधन), वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• tiṣṭhantam: standing
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले; पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bhartṛ-putra-gate: on the path leading to the master's son / devoted to master's son
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (bhartṛ-putra = 'master's son') + तत्पुरुषः (…-gata = 'gone to/engaged in'); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'pathi' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• pathi: on the path
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• bhaktam: devoted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bhṛtyam: servant
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sthitam: stationed / fixed
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातu)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sthityām: in (my) duty/position
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• tvam: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• hātum: to abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Infinitive)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)

• arhasi: ought / should
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 2, वचनम् एकवचनम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• hātum arhasi (हातुमर्हसि) = hātum + arhasi

Context

O Rama! you are affectionate towards your servants. I abide in the path followed by you, my master's son. I am your devoted servant. It does not behove you to forsake me who is faithful.

The teaching

True service is steadfast, yet must be guided by the master’s dharma; compassion includes sometimes refusing requests that disrupt rightful order.

Duties in tension

• Sumantra’s personal devotion and wish to accompany Rama vs institutional duty to remain a functional servant of the royal house
• Rama’s compassion for servants vs necessity of orderly execution of exile and protection of those left behind

Ethical theme

Sevaka-dharma; leadership ethics (anukampā with discipline)

How it resolves

Appeal to Rama’s virtue (bhṛtyavātsalya) and to one’s fixed duty-status

Devotion and practice

Models śaraṇāgati and humble petition; useful for cultivating dāsya-bhāva in japa/pujā.

Deity praised

Rama (as bhṛtyavatsala, protector of dependents)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

भृत्यवत्सल

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Pleading, dutiful, steadfast

Themes

• Dharma
• Seva (service)
• Duty
• Loyalty
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Maryada
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma is reciprocal: the servant remains steadfast in duty, and the righteous master is expected to protect and not forsake faithful dependents.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra appeals to Rama’s known compassion toward servants, asking not to be left behind when Rama departs for exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s bhṛtyavātsalya (care for dependents) and Sumantra’s steadfast devotion to duty.