Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 9

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

सुकुमार्या तपस्विन्या सुमन्त्र सह सीतया।राजपुत्रौ कथं पादैरवरुह्य रथाद्गतौ।।।।

Transliteration

sukumāryā tapasvinyā sumantra saha sītayā |

rāja-putrau kathaṃ pādair avaruhya rathād gatau ||

Translation

苏曼特罗啊，两位王子从车上下来后，怎能徒步而行，还带着悉多——那般娇柔，如今却如苦行者般忍受艰辛？

Word by Word

• sukumāryā: with the delicate (lady)
• sukumāryā: Sahakārī (सहकारि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukumārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sītayā

• tapasvinyā: with the ascetic (lady)
• tapasvinyā: Sahakārī (सहकारि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sītayā

• sumantra: O Sumantra
• sumantra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition/adverb ‘together with’

• sītayā: with Sītā
• sītayā: Sahakārī (सहकारि/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• rāja-putrau: the two princes
• rāja-putrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (rājñaḥ putrau); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb

• pādaiḥ: on foot/with feet
• pādaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana

• avaruhya: having alighted
• avaruhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; prior action to gatau

• rathāt: from the chariot
• rathāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī-vibhakti (Ablative/5th), Ekavacana

• gatau: went
• gatau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Dvivacana (Dual), Parasmaipada

Context

O Sumantra how did those two princes along with pitiable, delicate Sita, alight from the chariot, and enter the forest on foot?

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

It points to dharma as endurance and rightful conduct under suffering: royal heirs and a princess accept hardship without abandoning truth-bound commitments.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha questions Sumantra about the moment Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa left the chariot and proceeded into the forest with Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast devotion and courage—choosing to share her husband’s dharmic path even when it demands physical hardship.