Valmiki Ramayana 2.111.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest

Devanagari script

एवं मधुरमुक्तस्सन् गुरुणा राघवस्स्वयम्।प्रत्युवाच समासीनं वसिष्ठं पुरुषर्षभः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.111.8

Transliteration

evaṃ madhuram uktaḥ san guruṇā rāghavaḥ svayam | pratyuvāca samāsīnaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นถูกครูผู้เป็นคุรุกล่าวด้วยวาจาอ่อนหวานเช่นนั้น ราฆวะเอง—ยอดแห่งบุรุษ—จึงตอบวสิษฐะผู้ประทับนั่งอยู่ใกล้ ๆ

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in that way
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• मधुरम्: sweetly, with sweet words
• मधुरम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (adjective used adverbially with 'उक्तः')

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेष्य—राघवः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सन्' इत्यनेन सह भावे

• सन्: being, while (so)
• सन्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) शतृ/सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—“being/while being”

• गुरुणा: by the preceptor
• गुरुणा: Karta (कर्ता—कर्तृकरण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; साधन/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent in passive sense)

• राघवः: Rama (Raghava)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: personally, himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः/स्वकृत्य-निर्देशक (emphatic reflexive adverb)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः प्रति+उप (प्रत्यु-)

• समासीनम्: seated
• समासीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + सद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—वसिष्ठम्

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पुरुषर्षभः: best of men
• पुरुषर्षभः: Karta (कर्ता; राघवस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—पुरुषाणाम् ऋषभः (best among men)

Context

When Rama, the best of men, was advised personally by Vasistha, the preceptor, with sweet words, he replied to him who was sitting beside him:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Dharma is transmitted through respectful dialogue: counsel (upadeśa) and measured reply model how ethical decisions are discussed within tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition verse marking that Rāma, after hearing Vasiṣṭha’s sweet counsel, begins his response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and respect: Rāma responds without agitation, honoring his teacher’s role.