Valmiki Ramayana 2.60.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 4

षष्टितमः सर्गः · Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Setting: Ayodhya (queen’s quarters/palace interior implied)

Devanagari script

बाष्पवेगोपहतया स वाचा सज्जमानया ।

इदमाश्वासयन्देवीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.60.4

Transliteration

bāṣpavegopahatayā sa vācā sajjamānayā |

idam āśvāsayan devīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir abravīt ||4||

Translation

కన్నీటి ప్రవాహంతో గొంతు రుద్దుకుపోయి మాట తడబడుతుండగా, రాణిని ఓదార్చేందుకు సారథి కరజోడించి ఇలా పలికాడు।

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Word by Word

• bāṣpavegopahatayā: hindered by the rush of tears
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa-vega (प्रातिपदिक) + upahata (उप + han धातु + क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: bāṣpavegena upahatā; Strīlinga, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; qualifying vācā
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vācā: with speech/voice
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīlinga, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• sajjamānayā: faltering
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajj (धातु) + śānac (शानच्) → sajjamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Strīlinga, Instrumental singular; qualifying vācā
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• idam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of abravīt (what was said)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āśvāsayan: comforting
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + śvas (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्, causative) + śatṛ (शतृ) → āśvāsayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Pumlinga, Nominative singular; causative sense 'comforting'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• devīm: the queen
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīlinga, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sūtaḥ: the charioteer
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular; adjective of sūtaḥ; 'with joined palms'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• abravīt: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• bāṣpavegopahatayā = bāṣpa-vega + upahatayā
• idamāśvāsayan = idam + āśvāsayan
• prāñjalirabravīt = prāñjaliḥ + abravīt

Context

With folded hands and faltering words choked by his fastflowing tears the charioteer tried to console Kausalya:

The teaching

Even the messenger must uphold maryādā: speak with reverence, compassion, and restraint when elders grieve.

Ethical theme

Right speech (satya-hita-mita-vākya) and service

How it resolves

Consolation/ethical counsel

For your practice

Practice of compassionate speech and añjali-bhāva as inner humility; grief can be met with gentle counsel.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tear-choked, reverent, consoling

Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Court-ethics
• Grief-management

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

It presents compassionate duty: Sumantra performs his dharma as a loyal attendant by offering respectful consolation, even while sharing the sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration introduces Sumantra’s attempt to calm Kausalya, describing his emotional state and respectful posture before he begins speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and service-mindedness—Sumantra’s humility (folded hands) and shared grief while still fulfilling his role.