Valmiki Ramayana 2.14.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 32

सत्यपाशः · Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Setting: Palace gate/doorway to Daśaratha’s inner areaPlaces named: AyodhyaAt the threshold; meeting at the door

Devanagari script

सत्वपश्यद्विनिष्क्रान्तं सुमन्त्रं नाम सारथिम् ॥३२॥

द्वारे मनुजसिंहस्य सचिवं प्रियदर्शनम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.14.32

Transliteration

sa tvapaśyad viniṣkrāntaṃ sumantraṃ nāma sārathim ||32||

dvāre manujasiṃhasya sacivaṃ priyadarśanam |

Translation

แล้วท่าน (วสิษฐ) ก็เห็นสุมนตรา นามสารถีและอำมาตย์ผู้มีรูปงาม กำลังออกมาที่ประตูของราชสีห์ในหมู่มนุษย์ (ทศรถ)

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Word by Word

• तम्: to him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (object)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद; perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• महातेजाः: highly radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक; components: महत्, तेजस्)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; 'वसिष्ठः' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सूतपुत्रम्: son of the charioteer
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक; components: सूत, पुत्र)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूतस्य पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; 'तम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• विशारदम्: skilled, expert
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; 'सूतपुत्रम्/तम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (subject)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• आचक्ष्व: announce, inform
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ; imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• नृपतेः: to the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive: 'of/to the king' in sense of recipient)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)

• माम्: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-एकवचन (object)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb: here)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• आगतम्: arrived/come
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; 'माम्' इति विशेषणम् (me who has come)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• तमुवाच = तम् + उवाच
• क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व = क्षिप्रम् + आचक्ष्व
• नृपतेर्मामिहागतम् = नृपतेः + माम् + इह + आगतम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + म → र्म)

Context

Sage Vasistha saw handsome Sumantra, minister to Dasaratha, a lion among the charioteers coming out of the gate.

The teaching

Loyal service (saciva-dharma) operates at the thresholds of power, enabling righteous governance when aligned with wise counsel.

Ethical theme

Sevā-dharma / rājasevā

For your practice

Mindful performance of one’s role (svadharma) with loyalty and propriety at critical moments.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Formal, observational, threshold-moment

Themes

• Royal Court
• Administration
• Narrative
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Sumantra
• Dasaratha

FAQs

Who is referred to as 'Manujasimha' in this verse?

King Dasaratha is referred to as 'Manujasimha' (Lion among men), signifying his royal power and preeminence.

What dual roles does Sumantra hold in the court of Ayodhya?

Sumantra is identified as both a 'Sārathi' (charioteer) and a 'Saciva' (minister), indicating he was a trusted counselor as well as the King's personal driver.