Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.41: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 41

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

दैन्यं हि नगरी गच्छेद्दृष्ट्वा शून्यमिमं रथम्।सूतावशेषं स्वं सैन्यं हतवीरमिवाऽहवे।।2.52.41।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.41

Transliteration

dainyaṃ hi nagarī gacched dṛṣṭvā śūnyam imaṃ ratham |

sūtāvaśeṣaṃ svaṃ sainyaṃ hatavīram ivāhave || 2.52.41 ||

Translation

Pagkakita sa karwaheng ito na walang laman, ang lungsod ay malulugmok sa kaawa-awang kalagayan—gaya ng hukbong nasa labanan na ang natira na lamang ay ang kutsero, matapos mapatay ang bayani nito.

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Word by Word

• dainyam: wretchedness, misery
• dainyam: Karma (कर्म; परिणाम/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate-object with gacchet (‘go to/come to a state’)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = ‘indeed/for’

• nagarī: the city
• nagarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gacchet: would become / would go
• gacchet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular; Parasmaipada; ‘would go/come (to)’

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) = ‘having seen’

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with ratham

• imam: this
• imam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with ratham

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sūtāvaśeṣam: with only the charioteer left
• sūtāvaśeṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + avaśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘sūta-avaśeṣa’ = ‘having only the charioteer remaining’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with sainyam

• svam: their own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; possessive adjective agreeing with sainyam

• sainyam: army
• sainyam: Upamāna (उपमान; in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of implied comparison (iva)

• hatavīram: with heroes slain
• hatavīram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त, √han) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘hata-vīra’ = ‘whose heroes are slain’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with sainyam

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात) = ‘like/as’

• āhave: in battle
• āhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

Seeing the empty chariot the people of the city will look pitiable just like an army left only with the charioteer after its hero is killed in the war.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• Ayodhya (implied)
• chariot (ratha)
• battlefield (āhava) (as simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma underscores the moral centrality of a righteous leader: when the protector is removed, society feels defenseless—like an army without its champion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra intensifies his plea by describing how the empty chariot will symbolize loss and trigger public despair.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful counsel from a loyal retainer—Sumantra speaks difficult truth to Rama to prevent wider suffering.