Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

खनित्रपिटके चोभे समानयत गच्छतः।चतुर्दश वने वासं वर्षाणि वसतो मम।।2.37.5।।

Transliteration

khanitra-piṭake cobhe samānayata gacchataḥ | caturdaśa vane vāsaṁ varṣāṇi vasato mama || 2.37.5 ||

Translation

As I depart to dwell in the forest for fourteen years, bring me those two items as well—a digging tool and a basket.

Word by Word

• खनित्रपिटके: a spade and a basket
• खनित्रपिटके: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khanitra + piṭaka (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उभे: both
• उभे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समानयत: bring together, fetch
• समानयत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā√nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• गच्छतः: of (him) who is going
• गच्छतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); 'of (him) going'

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; द्विगु-समास (catur + daśa) used as numeral adjective

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वासम्: dwelling, residence
• वासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वसतः: of (him) residing
• वसतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); 'of (him) residing'

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Therefore, by greedily guarding your son's interest you are doing him harm. There is none in this world who will not follow Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• fourteen years

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as practical discipline: accepting hardship with readiness and arranging only what is necessary for a life of simplicity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, preparing for exile, asks for minimal tools needed for forest subsistence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-reliance and austerity—contentment with minimal possessions.