Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 14

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Setting: अयोध्या (Ayodhyā)Pre-departure provisioning for exile

Devanagari script

राजा सत्वरमाहूय व्यापृतं वित्तसंञ्चये ।

उवाच देशकालज्ञो निश्चितं सर्वत श्शुचिम् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.14

Transliteration

rājā satvaram āhūya vyāpṛtaṃ vittasañcaye |

uvāca deśakālajño niścitaṃ sarvataś śucim ||14||

Translation

Nhà vua, am tường thời và thế, liền vội triệu viên quan đang lo việc tích trữ tài khố—ý chí kiên định, trọn bề thanh liêm—rồi phán bảo.

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Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• सत्वरम्: quickly/hastily
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)

• आहूय: having summoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: ह्वे (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुषङ्ग)

• व्यापृतम्: engaged/occupied
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + आ + प्र (उपसर्ग) + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (engaged/occupied), (तम् understood)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वित्तसञ्चये: in the treasury/wealth-store
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन (singular), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (accumulation of wealth)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• देशकालज्ञः: knowing place and time
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश + काल + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (knower of place and time)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• निश्चितम्: firm/decided
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + चि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (तम् understood) दृढम् (firm/decided)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सर्वतः: in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परितोऽर्थे (adverb: in every way/from all sides)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)

• शुचिम्: pure/honest
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (तम् understood)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• सत्वरमाहूय = सत्वरम् + आहूय
• सर्वतश्शुचिम् = सर्वतः + शुचिम् (visarga + ś)

Context

The king who was aware of the right place and time summoned hurriedly the treaury officer, who was firm and honest and said to him:

The teaching

Duties in tension

• अन्तःशोक बनाम राजकीय कर्तव्य: निजी वेदना के बीच शासन-कर्तव्य

Ethical theme

राजधर्म / नीति

How it resolves

Procedural duty despite grief

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Urgent, grave, administrative

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Governance
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• treasury (kośa)

FAQs

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

Righteous governance depends on integrity in public office: the king relies on a pure and steady treasury official, reflecting the dharmic necessity of trustworthy administration.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha calls the treasury officer to arrange resources needed for the impending forest life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The officer’s honesty and firmness; and the king’s prudence in choosing the right agent at the right time.