Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 19

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament

Devanagari script

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः।अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः।।।।

Transliteration

āyataiḥ vimalair netrair aśruvega-pariplutaiḥ |

anyonyam abhivīkṣante 'vyaktam ārtatarāḥ striyaḥ ||

Translation

妇女们更添哀痛，彼此默然相望；她们那又大又清澈的眼睛，被奔涌的泪水所淹没。

Word by Word

• आयतैः: with long/large
• आयतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (नेत्रैः इति सह), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• विमलैः: with clean/clear
• विमलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• नेत्रैः: with eyes
• नेत्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः: flooded by the rush of tears
• अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु + वेग + परिप्लुत (प्लु धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: समास: अश्रूणां वेगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन परिप्लुतैः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘नेत्रैः’

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverbial accusative ‘mutually/each other’

• अभिवीक्षन्ते: they look (at)
• अभिवीक्षन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; they look at

• अव्यक्तम्: indistinctly, silently
• अव्यक्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया/प्रथमा-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverb ‘indistinctly/silently’

• आर्ततराः: more anguished
• आर्ततराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त + तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तर्तम-प्रत्यय (comparative): ‘more afflicted’

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Context

The women in great anguish stood silently looking at one another, their large eyesflooded with overflowing tears.

Characters & Entities

• women of the palace
• Rāma (implied by context)

FAQs

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

It highlights empathetic restraint: grief is shared without disorderly speech, reflecting decorum (maryādā) even amid suffering caused by a dharmic decision.

What is the narrative situation?

The palace women silently register the reality of Rāma’s absence, communicating sorrow through looks and tears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and solidarity: their quiet mutual gaze shows shared endurance rather than agitation.