Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 19

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

असमञ्जो गृहीत्वा तु क्रीडतः पथि बालकान्।सरय्वाः प्रक्षिपन्नप्सु रमते तेन दुर्मतिः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.19

Transliteration

asamañjo gṛhītvā tu krīḍataḥ pathi bālakān | sarayvāḥ prakṣipann apsu ramate tena durmatiḥ ||2.36.19||

Translation

อสมัญชะผู้มีจิตชั่ว มักฉวยเด็กน้อยที่เล่นอยู่ตามทาง แล้วโยนลงสู่สายน้ำสรยู เพื่อความสำราญของตน

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Word by Word

• असमञ्जः: Asamañja
• असमञ्जः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असमञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), "having seized"

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; contrast/emphasis)

• क्रीडतः: while playing (of him playing)
• क्रीडतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; "of (him) playing"

• पथि: on the road
• पथि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बालकान्: boys/children
• बालकान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सरय्वाः: of the Sarayū (river)
• सरय्वाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रक्षिपन्: throwing/hurling
• प्रक्षिपन्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अप्सु: in the waters
• अप्सु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (irregular stem)

• रमते: enjoys/amuses himself
• रमते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दुर्मतिः: the evil-minded one
• दुर्मतिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दुष्टा मतिः)

Context

That wicked-minded Asamanjasa used to seize the children playing on the street and amuse himself by hurling them in the waters of river Sarayu.

Characters & Entities

• Asamañja
• Sarayū

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns cruelty, especially toward the innocent. Delighting in harm (hiṃsā-rati) is presented as a mark of adharma that demands royal attention and correction.

What is the narrative situation?

Siddhārtha recounts the notorious behavior of Asamañja to frame a moral comparison relevant to the present political decision about banishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is compassion and protection of the vulnerable—contrasted with Asamañja’s perverse pleasure in violence.