Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 10

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

Spoken by King Daśaratha to SumantraSetting: Ayodhya (palace to city outskirts)Places named: janapada (city/realm limits)Departure initiation—escort from palace to beyond janapada boundary

Devanagari script

औपवाह्यं रथं युक्त्वा त्वमायाहि हयोत्तमैः ।

प्रापयैनं महाभागमितो जनपदात्परम् ॥१०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.10

Transliteration

aupavāhyaṃ rathaṃ yuktvā tvam āyāhi hayottamaiḥ |

prāpayainaṃ mahābhāgam ito janapadāt param ||10||

Translation

备好可远行之车，套上最上等的骏马；速速前来，将这位大德之罗摩从此处送到城界之外。

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Word by Word

• औपवाह्यम्: fit for travel/for conveyance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवाह्य (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित/विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रथम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• रथम्: chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• युक्त्वा: having harnessed
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having yoked/harnessed’
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• आयाहि: come
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• हयोत्तमैः: with the best horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयभाव: उत्तमाः हयाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• प्रापय: convey/bring
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to reach’)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• एनम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; एनद्-आदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• महाभागम्: noble/fortunate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् भागः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• इतः: from here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक (ablatival adverb ‘from here’)
• Role: Apadana (अपादान)

• जनपदात्: from the city/realm
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Apadana (अपादान)

• परम्: beyond/outside
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (directional ‘beyond/outside’); गत्यर्थक
• Role: Gati (गति)

Sandhi Notes

• त्वमायाहि = त्वम् + आयाहि
• प्रापयैनम् = प्रापय + एनम्
• महाभागमितः = महाभागम् + इतः
• जनपदात्परम् = जनपदात् + परम्

Context

Harness the finest horses to the chariot suitable for the journey, drive this magnanimous Rama to a place outside the city, and come back.

The teaching

In royal dharma, commands are executed swiftly—even when the heart resists; duty often moves through instruments (messengers, charioteers).

Duties in tension

• King’s enforcement of exile decree vs paternal compassion
• Servant’s obedience to command vs empathy for prince

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma and sevaka-dharma (obedience)

How it resolves

Procedural compliance

For your practice

Reflection on disciplined action (karma-yoga-like execution) without personal malice; cultivating steadiness in assigned duty.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Urgent, strained, resigned

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma
• chariot
• horses
• Ayodhyā (implied by janapada)

FAQs

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

Royal duty is executed through orderly command and responsible logistics: even painful decisions are carried out with procedural clarity, reflecting rajadharma and adherence to declared intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha instructs Sumantra to prepare a travel-ready chariot with excellent horses and to take Rāma beyond the inhabited area as the exile is being set in motion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of kingship and decisiveness in issuing commands (even amid inner conflict) is foregrounded.