Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 25

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

तदलं ते वनं गत्वा क्षमं न हि वनं तव।विमृशन्निह पश्यामि बहुदोषतरं वनम्।।2.28.25।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.25

Transliteration

tad alaṃ te vanaṃ gatvā kṣamaṃ na hi vanaṃ tava |

vimṛśann iha paśyāmi bahudoṣataraṃ vanam || 2.28.25 ||

Translation

لذلك، حسبك: لا تذهب إلى الغابة؛ فحياة الغابة ليست لائقة بك حقًّا. وإني إذ أتأمل الأمر هنا أرى البرية أشد امتلاءً بالعيوب والمخاطر.

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Word by Word

• tad: therefore
• tad: Hetu (हेतु/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-prayoga (sentence-initial: 'therefore/so')

• alam: not advisable
• alam: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Discouraging particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (prohibitive/unsuitability: 'enough; not proper')

• te: for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; with gatvā

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ktvānta), avyaya-kṛdanta; prior action

• kṣamam: fit/suitable
• kṣamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (क्षम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (emphasis/causal: 'indeed/for')

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of 'kṣamam na hi'

• tava: for you/of you
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• vimṛśan: considering
• vimṛśan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject: 'I, considering')
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mṛś (वि-मृश् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ प्रत्यय)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with implicit 'aham'

• iha: here/now
• iha: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (here/now)

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Uttama puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• bahudoṣataraṃ: more full of faults/dangers
• bahudoṣataraṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (बहु) + doṣa (दोष) + tara (तरप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (many-faults) with comparative suffix; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate for vanam

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of paśyāmi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

It is frightening to hear the sounds of waterfalls and the roar of lions living in the mountain caves. Therefore forest life is painful (fearful).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves proportionate duty: one should not choose an option that multiplies risk and suffering when it is not required by righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma concludes his reasoning, asserting that Sītā should not accompany him because the forest is excessively dangerous.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership in private life—Rāma weighs consequences and sets a boundary to protect Sītā.