Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 8

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

इति चिन्तापरस्सूतो वाजिभिश्शीघ्रपातिभिः।नगरद्वारमासाद्य त्वरितः प्रविवेश ह।।।।

Transliteration

iti cintā-paraḥ sūto vājibhiḥ śīghra-pātibhiḥ |

agara-dvāram āsādya tvaritaḥ praviveśa ha ||

Translation

ఇలా చింతలో మునిగిన సారథి వేగంగా పరుగెత్తే గుర్రాలతో నగరద్వారాన్ని చేరి, త్వరగా లోనికి ప్రవేశించాడు।

Word by Word

• इति: thus; in this way
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative/particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• चिन्ता-परः: absorbed in thought
• चिन्ता-परः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘चिन्तायाः परः’ = absorbed in thought

• सूतः: the charioteer
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन)

• वाजिभिः: by/with horses
• वाजिभिः: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया 3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• शीघ्र-पातिभिः: swift-running
• शीघ्र-पातिभिः: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक) + pātin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया 3), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः ‘शीघ्राः पातिनः’ = swift-running

• नगर-द्वारम्: the city-gate
• नगर-द्वारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया 2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘नगरस्य द्वारम्’

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Kriya-samānādhikaraṇa (पूर्वकालिकक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having reached/arrived at’

• त्वरितः: hurried
• त्वरितः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvarita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from त्वृ/त्वर्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन); past participle used adjectivally ‘hurried’

• प्रविवेश: entered
• प्रविवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ह: indeed; (emphasis)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/emphatic (निपात)

Context

Has the city along with its elephants, horses, people and its king perished in the fire of grief for Rama?

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Ayodhyā (city gate implied)

FAQs

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

Even when troubled, one must proceed toward duty: Sumantra does not linger in fear but enters the city to report and serve.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra arrives at Ayodhyā’s gate and goes in swiftly, still preoccupied with worry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Promptness in service and responsibility under stress.