Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 28

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः · Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Setting: Ayodhyā (inner palace chamber)

Devanagari script

सुमित्रया तु सहिता कौसल्या पतितं पतिम् ।

उत्थापयामास तदा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥२८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.57.28

Transliteration

sumitrayā tu sahitā kausalyā patitaṃ patim |

utthāpayāmāsa tadā vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||28||

Translation

అప్పుడు సుమిత్ర సహాయంతో కౌసల్య పడిపోయిన భర్తను లేపి, ఈ వచనములు పలికెను।

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Word by Word

• सुमित्रया: with Sumitra
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन; Instrumental singular
• Role: Sahakāraka (सहकारी/सह-कर्ता)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे; emphatic/contrastive
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• सहिता: accompanied (together)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with कौसल्या
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• पतितम्: fallen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), agreeing with पतिम् (sense: fallen)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• पतिम्: husband
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उत्थापयामास: lifted up / raised
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-√स्था + णिच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense (raised/caused to rise)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• वचनम्: words / speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• चेदमब्रवीत् = च + इदम् + अब्रवीत् (a+i→e)
• पतितं पतिम्: adjective + noun in accusative
• utthāpayāmāsa is लिट् of causative utthāpaya-

Context

Having seen her husband collapsed on the ground, Kausalya assisted by Sumitra lifted him up and said to him thus:

The teaching

In crisis, compassionate support and timely counsel are dharma; steadiness can be restored through care and right speech.

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / care ethics

For your practice

Sevā in family life: supporting the vulnerable with calm speech and practical help.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Supportive, maternal, urgent

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Family duty
• Compassion
• Queens of Ayodhya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kausalya
• Sumitra
• Dasharatha

FAQs

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

Gṛhastha-dharma and compassion: in crisis, Kausalya and Sumitra respond with care and support rather than accusation.

What is the narrative situation?

After Dasharatha faints, Kausalya and Sumitra physically support him and Kausalya begins to address him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalya’s steadfastness and Sumitra’s supportive solidarity in a moment of royal disaster.