Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 1

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

ततस्सुमन्त्रमैक्ष्वाकः पीडितोऽत्र प्रतिज्ञया।सबाष्पमतिनिश्श्वश्य जगादेदं पुनः पुनः।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sumantram aikṣvākaḥ pīḍito 'tra pratijñayā | sabāṣpam atiniśśvasya jagādedaṃ punaḥ punaḥ || 2.36.1 ||

Translation

Bấy giờ Daśaratha, hậu duệ dòng Ikṣvāku, bị lời thệ nguyện ấy dày vò; ông thở dài não nề hết lần này đến lần khác, lệ tràn mi, rồi lại nói với Sumantra những lời sau đây.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः-काल/अनन्तरवाचक अव्यय)

• sumantram: Sumantra
• sumantram: Karma (कर्म/recipient-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aikṣvākaḥ: the Ikshvaku-descendant (Daśaratha)
• aikṣvākaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aikṣvāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular; epithet of Daśaratha

• pīḍitaḥ: afflicted
• pīḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Singular; agrees with aikṣvākaḥ

• atra: here, in this matter
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deictic adverb (देशवाचक/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय)

• pratijñayā: by the promise
• pratijñayā: Karana (करण/cause-means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• sa-bāṣpam: with tears
• sa-bāṣpam: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: bāṣpena saha; Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adverbial accusative qualifying speech/act

• ati-niśśvaśya: having sighed deeply
• ati-niśśvaśya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati + niḥ + śvas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्) from √śvas with upasargas niḥ-, ati-; 'having sighed deeply'

• jagāda: said
• jagāda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gad (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of jagāda

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनः-अव्यय)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनः-अव्यय), repetition for emphasis

Context

Afflicted on account of the promise he had made, Dasaratha, descendant of the Ikshvakus heaved deep sighs again and again and with his eyes full of tears uttered these words to Sumantra:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Satya-dharma: the king is crushed by the binding force of a pledged word, showing how truthfulness can demand painful sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

After being bound by Kaikeyī’s boons, Daśaratha turns to his minister-charioteer Sumantra, overwhelmed by the consequences of his promise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth/pledge-keeping, even when it conflicts with personal desire and causes intense suffering.