Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 19

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः · Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Narrated by ValmikiSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः ।

अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.57.19

Transliteration

āyatairvimalairnetrairaśruvegapariplutaiḥ |

anyonyamabhivīkṣante'vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ ||19||

Translation

ด้วยพระเนตรที่กว้างใหญ่และบริสุทธิ์ ที่ถูกกระแสน้ำตาท่วมท้น สตรีทั้งหลายมองดูกันและกันอย่างเงียบงัน ความทุกข์ระทมของพวกนางเกินกว่าจะพรรณนาได้

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Word by Word

• आयतैः: with long/large
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (नेत्रैः इति सह), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• विमलैः: with clean/clear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• नेत्रैः: with eyes
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः: flooded by the rush of tears
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु + वेग + परिप्लुत (प्लु धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: अश्रूणां वेगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन परिप्लुतैः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘नेत्रैः’
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverbial accusative ‘mutually/each other’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अभिवीक्षन्ते: they look (at)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; they look at
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• अव्यक्तम्: indistinctly, silently
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverb ‘indistinctly/silently’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• आर्ततराः: more anguished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त + तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तर्तम-प्रत्यय (comparative): ‘more afflicted’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• स्त्रियः: women
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• आयतैः + विमलैः + नेत्रैः → आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैः
• नेत्रैः + अश्रु… → नेत्रैरश्रु…
• अन्योन्यम् + अभिवीक्षन्ते → अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्ते
• अभिवीक्षन्ते + अव्यक्तम् → अभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तम्

Context

The women in great anguish stood silently looking at one another, their large eyesflooded with overflowing tears.

The teaching

The suffering of subjects reflects the righteousness of their leader

Ethical theme

Social dharma

For your practice

Expression of pure bhakti through shared grief

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Heartbreaking, silent, tearful

Themes

• Dharma
• Vatsalya
• Compassion
• Collective Grief
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the Dharma of shared grief and communal compassion. The women of Ayodhya, though not directly related to Rama, experience profound anguish at his exile, demonstrating that true righteousness inspires universal love. Their silent, mutual gaze reflects the Dharma of empathetic solidarity in times of collective suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra has returned to Ayodhya palace after leaving Rama in the forest. The women of the royal household and palace quarters, seeing the empty chariot and realizing Rama's departure, are overcome with grief. They stand in the palace courtyards, unable to speak, their tears flowing uncontrollably as they look at each other in shared sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes the virtue of karuna (compassion) and emotional authenticity. The women's grief is spontaneous and profound, showing that genuine virtue inspires love beyond formal relationships. Their silent anguish reflects the depth of their devotion to Rama and their capacity for empathetic suffering.