Valmiki Ramayana 2.58.34 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 34

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

जानकी तु महाराज निश्श्वसन्ती मनस्विनी।भूतोपहतचित्तेव विष्ठिता विस्मृता स्मिता।।।।

Transliteration

jānakī tu mahārāja niśśvasantī manasvinī |

bhūtopahatacitteva viṣṭhitā vismṛtā smitā ||

Translation

แต่พระนางชานกี ข้าแต่มหาราช ผู้มีใจอ่อนโยนแต่มั่นคง ยืนถอนใจยาวราวกับจิตถูกภูตผีครอบงำ—ตะลึงงัน เลือนลืม และยังมีรอยยิ้มจาง ๆ อยู่

Word by Word

• jānakī: Janaki (Sita)
• jānakī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/and)

• mahārāja: O great king
• mahārāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahārāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• niśśvasantī: sighing
• niśśvasantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śvas (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः nis- (niḥ-)

• manasvinī: sensitive/spirited
• manasvinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhūtopahatacittā: as if possessed (mind-struck)
• bhūtopahatacittā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + upahata (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: bhūtena upahatam cittam yasyāḥ = 'whose mind is struck as if by a spirit' (bahuvrīhi-sense used adjectivally)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• viṣṭhitā: stood (stupefied)
• viṣṭhitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; vi+sthā: 'stood/was stationed'

• vismṛtā: unmindful
• vismṛtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; vi+smṛ: 'forgetful/unmindful'

• smitā: smiling
• smitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smi (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'smiling'

Context

Supported by Lakshmana's arms, Rama stood, his face streaming with tears and palms folded, while the wretched Sita, glaring at me and the royal chariot, weeping.इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।Thus ends the fiftyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Dasharatha

FAQs

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

Dharma’s burden is shown through innocent suffering: even the blameless endure pain when truth-bound vows and political actions collide.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra describes Sita’s shock and emotional disorientation as Rama departs for exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s deep attachment and purity of devotion, expressed through involuntary grief.