Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 12

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

आसितं शयितं भुक्तं सूत रामस्य कीर्तय।जीविष्यामहमेतेन ययातिरिव साधुषु।।।।

Transliteration

āsitaṁ śayitaṁ bhuktaṁ sūta rāmasya kīrtaya |

jīviṣyāmy aham etena yayātir iva sādhuṣu ||

Translation

御者啊，请告诉我：罗摩坐在何处，睡在何处，吃了什么。听闻这些，我便能继续活下去——如同耶耶提在贤善之士的相伴中得以支撑。

Word by Word

• āsitam: (his) sitting/seat
• āsitam: Karma (कर्म; object of kīrtaya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (PPP) used substantively; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śayitam: (his) lying/bed
• śayitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √śī (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (PPP) used substantively; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• bhuktam: (his) eating/food eaten
• bhuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Kta (PPP) used substantively; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• sūta: O charioteer
• sūta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Ekavacana

• kīrtaya: tell/describe
• kīrtaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• jīviṣyāmi: I shall live
• jīviṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic Future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Prathamā, Ekavacana

• etena: by this/with this (account)
• etena: Karaṇa (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Ekavacana

• yayātiḥ: Yayāti
• yayātiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yayāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile particle

• sādhuṣu: among the good/saints
• sādhuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; sphere/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Loc/7th), Bahuvacana

Context

Thus questioned by the king the charioteer, his voice choked with tears and words faltering in grief, addressed the king:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sūta (charioteer)
• Rāma
• Yayāti

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as truthful reporting and faithful remembrance: Daśaratha seeks precise, honest details about Rāma, showing that truth (satya) and attentive listening can sustain one in suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, tormented by separation from Rāma, asks the charioteer to recount Rāma’s basic daily circumstances—seat, bed, and food.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s deep parental devotion and reverent concern for Rāma’s welfare are emphasized, even in the smallest details.