Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.42: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 42

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

न हि तत्पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःखदं दर्शनं पितुः ।

मातुश्च सहितुं शक्तस्तोत्रार्दित इव द्विपः ॥४२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.42

Transliteration

na hi tatpuruṣavyāghro duḥkhadaṃ darśanaṃ pituḥ |

mātuś ca sahituṃ śaktaḥ totrārdita iva dvipaḥ ||42||

Translation

พระรามผู้เป็นพยัคฆ์ท่ามกลางบุรุษ ไม่อาจทนต่อภาพอันก่อทุกข์แห่งพระบิดาและพระมารดาได้ ดุจช้างที่ถูกตะขอช้างทิ่มแทงให้ระทม

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Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• तत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः: the best of men
• तत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पुरुष + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुरुषेषु व्याघ्रः; ‘tiger among men’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःखदम्: pain-giving
• दुःखदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुःखं ददाति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of darśanam)

• दर्शनम्: the sight/seeing
• दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये विषय (sight)

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• मातुः: of (his) mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सहितुम्: to endure
• सहितुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सह् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग; ‘to endure’

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘able’ (with infinitive)

• तोत्रार्दितः: tormented by the goad
• तोत्रार्दितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोत्र + अर्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तोत्रेण अर्दितः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• द्विपः: an elephant
• द्विपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान

Context

Rama the best among men, could not, like an elephant tormented by the goad, endure that pitiful sight of his father and mother.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is not emotional hardness; it allows righteous people to feel deep compassion. The verse validates sorrow as a natural response while still moving toward duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma sees his parents’ suffering during his departure and is overwhelmed, unable to bear the sight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hṛdaya-saumya (tender-heartedness) alongside inner strength: even the ‘best of men’ is pained by others’ grief.