Valmiki Ramayana 2.62.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः · Kausalyā consoles Daśaratha; grief, remorse, and nightfall

Devanagari script

वनवासाय रामस्य पञ्चरात्रोऽद्य गण्यते ।

य श्शोकहतहर्षायाः पञ्चवर्षोपमो मम ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.62.18

Transliteration

vanavāsāya rāmasya pañcarātro 'dya gaṇyate |

yaḥ śoka-hata-harṣāyāḥ pañca-varṣopamo mama ||18||

Translation

วันนี้นับเป็นคืนที่ห้าแห่งการอยู่ป่าของพระราม; แต่สำหรับข้าพเจ้า—ผู้ซึ่งความยินดีถูกความโศกสังหาร—ช่วงเวลานี้กลับยาวดุจห้าปี

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Word by Word

• vana-vāsāya: for forest-exile
• vana-vāsāya: Sampradāna (Recipient/goal/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी), Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: vana-vāsa ('dwelling in forest')

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Possession/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Eka-vacana

• pañca-rātraḥ: a period of five nights
• pañca-rātraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; dvigu: 'five nights'

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• gaṇyate: is counted
• gaṇyate: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gaṇ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa, Eka-vacana; Ātmanepada passive-like: 'is counted/considered'

• yaḥ: which, that (period)
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; relative pronoun

• śoka-hata-harṣāyāḥ: of me, whose joy is destroyed by grief
• śoka-hata-harṣāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त; √han + kta) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: 'of (one) whose joy is struck down by grief' (qualifying mama)

• pañca-varṣa-upamaḥ: equal to five years
• pañca-varṣa-upamaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: 'equal to five years'

• mama: to me / of me
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Eka-vacana

Context

This is the fifth night of Rama's exile, but it is like five years to me whose joy has been destroyed by sorrow.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Vana (forest exile)

FAQs

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

It underscores fidelity and familial dharma: love and duty make separation painful, and acknowledging that pain is part of truthful living (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā marks the passing days since Rāma’s departure and reveals how grief distorts time.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maternal devotion (vātsalya) and steadfast attachment to righteousness through love for Rāma.