Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 21

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सह रामेण निर्यातो विना राम मिहागतः।सूतः किन्नाम कौसल्यां शोचन्तीं प्रतिवक्ष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

saha rāmeṇa niryāto vinā rāmam ihāgataḥ |

sūtaḥ kiṃ nāma kausalyāṃ śocantīṃ prativakṣyati ||

Translation

他随罗摩出发，却独自归来而无罗摩；那御者将以何言，去答复哀恸的憍萨利耶？

Word by Word

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे तृतीया-सहचर्य (with)

• रामेण: with Rama
• रामेण: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• निर्यातः: having gone out / departed
• निर्यातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone out/departed’ (predicative)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगवाचक, द्वितीया-सम्बन्ध (without)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

• आगतः: returned
• आगतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘returned/come’ (predicative)

• सूतः: the charioteer (Sumantra)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative pronoun used adverbially ‘what’

• नाम: indeed, ever
• नाम: Prayojaka (प्रयोजक/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न-निश्चय/आश्चर्यवर्धक (indeed/ever)

• कौसल्याम्: to Kausalya
• कौसल्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of speaking)

• शोचन्तीम्: lamenting
• शोचन्तीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘कौसल्याम्’

• प्रतिवक्ष्यति: will say in reply
• प्रतिवक्ष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; he will reply/say

Context

The charioteer left with Rama and returned without him. What can he say to the wailing Kausalya?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sumantra (sūta)
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma centers on satya-vākya (truthful speech) tempered by compassion: delivering painful truth to a grieving mother must be done responsibly and gently.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing Sumantra return alone, the queens anticipate the difficult moment of informing Kausalyā that Rāma is not with him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassion and moral sensitivity: awareness that truth must be spoken with care when it will deepen another’s sorrow.