Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.27 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 27

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

स रामस्य वचश्श्रृत्वा भृशं दुःखहतः पिता।शोकादशक्नुवन्वकतुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्।।2.19.27।।

Transliteration

sa rāmasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhahataḥ pitā | śokād aśaknuvan vaktuṃ praruroda mahāsvanam ||2.19.27||

Translation

ครั้นได้สดับวาจาของพระราม พระบิดาถูกความทุกข์โศกอย่างหนักครอบงำ มิอาจเปล่งวาจาเพราะความเศร้า จึงร่ำไห้กึกก้องเสียงดัง

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (तीव्रता)

• duḥkha-hataḥ: stricken with sorrow
• duḥkha-hataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √han)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'struck by grief' qualifying pitā

• pitā: father (Daśaratha)
• pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śokāt: from sorrow
• śokāt: Hetu (हेतु/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• aśaknuvan: was not able
• aśaknuvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular; with augment a-; present stem śaknu-

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable

• praruroda: cried
• praruroda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular; reduplicated perfect

• mahā-svanam: with a loud cry
• mahā-svanam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially as manner: 'with loud sound'

Context

Father (Dasaratha), too tormented with grief to speak cried out loudly on hearing the words of Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the human cost of dharma-bound promises: truth must be upheld even when it brings profound suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reacts to Rāma’s acceptance of exile, overwhelmed by grief and unable to respond verbally.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s resolve indirectly underscores Daśaratha’s tragic burden of keeping his pledged word.