Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 21

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तानुवाच ततो राजा किन्निमित्तमिदं भयम्।ताश्चापि राज्ञा सम्पृष्टा वाक्यं प्रकृतयोऽब्रुवन्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.21

Transliteration

tān uvāca tato rājā kin-nimittam idaṃ bhayam | tāś cāpi rājñā sampṛṣṭā vākyaṃ prakṛtayo 'bruvan ||2.36.21||

Translation

แล้วพระราชาตรัสแก่พวกเขาว่า “ความหวาดกลัวนี้มีเหตุอันใด?” ครั้นถูกพระราชาซักถามแล้ว เหล่าประชาราษฎร์จึงกราบทูลถ้อยคำดังนี้

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Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्; "then/from that")

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• निमित्तम्: cause
• निमित्तम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ताः: they/those (women/people)
• ताः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थक conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; also/even)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सम्पृष्टाः: having been questioned
• सम्पृष्टाः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; "having been asked"

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रकृतयः: subjects
• प्रकृतयः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; "subjects/citizens"

• अब्रुवन्: said
• अब्रुवन्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

The king then asked them, 'Why this fear?'. And the citizens responded:

Characters & Entities

• King Sagara

FAQs

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

A dharmic ruler listens and inquires: kingship requires responsiveness to subjects’ distress and willingness to investigate wrongdoing rather than dismiss complaints.

What is the narrative situation?

After citizens issue an ultimatum, the king asks the cause of their fear, prompting their formal complaint.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive governance—openness to hearing grievances and seeking reasons before judgment.