Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 11

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

तं तपन्तमिवादित्यमुपपन्नं स्वतेजसा।ववन्दे वरदं वन्दी विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.11

Transliteration

taṃ tapantam ivādityam upapannaṃ svatejasā |

vavande varadaṃ vandī vinayajño vinītavat || 2.16.11 ||

Translation

سُمنترا—درباری منادی، جو ادب و انکسار کا شناسا تھا—رام کو، جو برکتیں عطا کرنے والا ہے اور اپنے ذاتی جلال میں آفتاب کی طرح تاباں تھا، نہایت تعظیم سے سجدۂ ادب کیا۔

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Word by Word

• स्थितया: standing
• स्थितया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP used adjectivally (क्त), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with ‘vālavyajanahastayā’ (implicit ‘striyā’)

• पार्श्वतः: at the side
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pārśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya (देश-अव्यय) ‘at the side’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta conjunction

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात) particle; emphasis/addition

• वाल-व्यजन-हस्तया: with a yak-tail fan in hand
• वाल-व्यजन-हस्तया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāla + vyajana + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vālasya vyajanam’ + ‘tasya hastaḥ’; Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; karaṇa/saṅga (attendant circumstance)

• उपेतम्: attended/accompanied
• उपेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√i (इ धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP (क्त), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘tam’ (Rāma): ‘attended by’

• सीतया: by Sita
• सीतया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agent/associate in passive construction with ‘upetam’

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; punar-artha adverb (पुनरर्थ)

• चित्रया: with (the star) Citrā
• चित्रया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; here ‘Citrā’ nakṣatra; upamāna-sahakāraka in simile

• शशिनम्: the moon
• शशिनम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; upamāna (object of comparison)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (उपमा-वाचक)

Context

Sumantra who knew the art of modesty, made humble, reverential salutation to Rama the granter of boons, shining like the Sun with his own effulgence.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sumantra
• Sun (Aditya)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as vinaya (humility) and proper reverence: Sumantra approaches Rāma with respectful conduct, modelling ethical courtly behaviour.

What is the narrative situation?

On arriving to deliver the king’s message, Sumantra first offers formal salutations to Rāma, acknowledging his dignity and auspicious presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s humility and decorum (vinaya), and Rāma’s tejas (inner nobility and moral authority).