Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 25

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

यावन्मातरमाप्नच्छे सीतां चानुनयाम्यहम्।ततोऽद्यैव गमिष्यामि दण्डकानां महद्वनम्।।2.19.25।।

Transliteration

yāvan mātaram āpnacche sītāṃ cānunayāmy aham | tato 'dyaiva gamiṣyāmi daṇḍakānāṃ mahad vanam ||2.19.25||

Translation

Once I have taken leave of my mother and consoled Sītā, I shall depart today itself for the vast forest of Daṇḍaka.

Word by Word

• yāvat: until
• yāvat: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal conjunction (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnacche: I reach/meet
• āpnacche: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तम-पुरुष), Singular; Vedic/epic variant for āpnu-yām/āpnomi sense: 'I meet/take leave'

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• anunayāmi: I console/persuade
• anunayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-nī (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तम-पुरुष), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (ततः = then/thereafter)

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• eva: itself
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• gamiṣyāmi: I shall go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Lṛṭ (Simple future/लृट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तम-पुरुष), Singular

• daṇḍakānām: of the Dandakas
• daṇḍakānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; toponymic

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying vanam

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

After taking leave of my mother and consoling Sita, today itself I shall go to that wild Dandaka forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Kauśalyā (implied as 'my mother')
• Daṇḍaka forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as prompt action aligned with duty, while still honoring family bonds through proper leave-taking and care.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma prepares to leave immediately for exile, first intending to inform his mother and speak with Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of responsibility combined with compassion.