Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 9

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम्।काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.9

Transliteration

idaṃ vyasanam ālokya rājñaś ca mativibhramam | kāma evārthadharmābhyāṃ garīyān iti me matiḥ ||

Translation

اس مصیبت کو اور راجہ کی رائے کی پریشانی کو دیکھ کر میری سمجھ میں یہی آتا ہے کہ خواہشِ نفس ہی دولت اور دھرم—دونوں پر غالب پڑتی ہے۔

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Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: calamity, misfortune
• व्यसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having seen’

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मतिविभ्रमम्: confusion/aberration of mind
• मतिविभ्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति + विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: मतेः विभ्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कामः: desire, passion
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: alone, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (only/indeed)

• अर्थधर्माभ्याम्: than artha and dharma (wealth and righteousness)
• अर्थधर्माभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + धर्म (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अर्थश्च धर्मश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; तुलना/अपेक्षा (in comparison with)

• गरीयान्: stronger, weightier
• गरीयान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरियस्/गुरु (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मतिः: opinion, thought
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Context

Reflecting on the calamity and mental aberration of the king, I think passion is stronger than wealth and righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha (king, implied)
• kāma
• artha
• dharma

FAQs

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

Unchecked desire can overpower both material prudence (artha) and moral law (dharma); therefore dharma demands mastery over kāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma interprets the exile crisis as evidence of how desire can distort judgment even in a king, leading to disaster.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral insight and detachment: Rāma uses suffering as a lens to understand human weakness, rather than to seek revenge.