Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 2

एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः

Narrated by ValmikiSetting: Ayodhyā (implied, royal court context)

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्रो बाष्पविक्लबः ।

कथयामास भूयोऽपि रामसन्देशविस्तरम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.59.2

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā sumantro bāṣpa-viklabaḥ |

kathayāmāsa bhūyo 'pi rāma-sandeśa-vistaram ||2||

Translation

ఆ మాటలు విని సుమంత్రుడు కన్నీళ్లతో విహ్వలుడయ్యాడు. తరువాత అతడు రాముడు పంపిన సందేశాన్ని మరల విస్తారంగా వివరించాడు।

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Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (gen sg)
• Role: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• तत्: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; वचनम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्तं अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund)
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• बाष्पविक्लबः: overcome with tears
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (बाष्पेण विक्लबः)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• कथयामास: narrated
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• भूयः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; पुनरर्थे (again/more)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अपि-निपातः (also/even)
• Role: Particle (निपात)

• रामसन्देशविस्तरम्: details of Rama's message
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + सन्देश + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य सन्देशस्य विस्तारः)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तद्वचनम् → तत् वचनम्
• भूयोऽपि → भूयः अपि

Context

Having heard him, Sumantra, overcome with tears, related further details of Rama's message.

The teaching

Even in grief, dharma requires faithful transmission of truth; compassion may accompany truth but not replace it.

Duties in tension

• Sumantra’s duty to report Rama’s words accurately
• Compassionate impulse to soften painful truth for the king

Ethical theme

Satya-dharma / rāja-dharma (ministerial duty)

How it resolves

Truthful disclosure with emotional restraint

For your practice

Practice of satya in speech and steadiness amid sorrow; mindful listening (śravaṇa) even when the mind is shaken.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tear-choked, dutiful, heavy-hearted

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Satya
• Grief
• Royal duty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma here is truthful transmission of responsibility-bearing speech: Sumantra, despite grief, faithfully conveys Rama’s message without distortion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra has returned to Ayodhya after leaving Rama and now recounts Rama’s message to the devastated king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s fidelity and integrity (faithful service and truthful reporting) even under emotional strain.