Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 7

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः

Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Devanagari script

तमुवाच तत स्सूतो राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति।श्रुत्वा प्रमाणमत्र त्वं गमनायेतराय वा।।2.4.7।।

Transliteration

tam uvāca tataḥ sūto rājā tvāṃ draṣṭum icchati | śrutvā pramāṇam atra tvaṃ gamanāyetarāya vā ||2.4.7||

Translation

แล้วสารถีกล่าวแก่พระองค์ว่า “พระราชาทรงประสงค์จะทอดพระเนตรพบพระองค์ เมื่อทรงสดับพระบัญชานี้แล้ว อำนาจตัดสินอยู่ที่พระองค์เอง—จะเสด็จไป หรือจะไม่ไปก็ตาม”

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (thereafter)

• सूतः: the charioteer
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय, infinitive)

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा, gerund)

• प्रमाणम्: authority/decider
• प्रमाणम्: Vidhaya (विधेय/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/विषयवाचक (in this matter)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• गमनाय: for going
• गमनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘for going’

• इतराय: for the other alternative
• इतराय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘for the other (course)’

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

Context

Then Sumantra replied, 'The king desires to see you. To go or not to go, the decision is yours'.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (the king)

FAQs

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

Dharma as respectful counsel: Sumantra conveys the king’s wish faithfully, while acknowledging Rāma’s personal agency and judgment in responding.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra informs Rāma that Daśaratha wants to see him, and indicates the decision to comply rests with Rāma after hearing the message.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s integrity and tact—he reports the message without distortion and speaks with deference.