Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 12

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

वनवासेऽभिजानामि दुःखानि बहुथा किल।प्राप्यन्ते नियतं वीर पुरुषैरकृतात्मभिः।।।।

Transliteration

vanavāse 'bhijānāmi duḥkhāni bahudhā kila | prāpyante niyataṃ vīra puruṣair akṛtātmabhiḥ || 2.29.12 ||

Translation

أيها البطل، إني أعلم حقًّا أن الإقامة في الغابة تجلب ألوانًا كثيرة من المشاقّ؛ غير أنّ مثل هذه الآلام إنما تقع يقينًا على الرجال الذين لم يملكوا أنفسهم ولم يروّضوا قلوبهم.

Word by Word

• वनवासे: in forest-dwelling
• वनवासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः वन+वास (तत्पुरुषः)

• अभिजानामि: I know, I am aware
• अभिजानामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुःखानि: sufferings
• दुःखानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• बहुथा: in many ways
• बहुथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: in many ways)

• किल: indeed
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्राप्यन्ते: are experienced
• प्राप्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: are obtained/experienced)

• नियतम्: certainly
• नियतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: certainly/definitely)

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पुरुषैः: by men
• पुरुषैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अकृतात्मभिः: by the undisciplined (uncontrolled)
• अकृतात्मभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकृतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः अ-कृत+आत्मन् (बहुव्रीहिः: येषाम् आत्मा न कृतः/असंयतः)

Context

I am aware, O valiant one, that there are hardships of every kind in forest life. But they befall those whose senses are not under their control.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to self-mastery: external hardship becomes spiritually manageable when the senses and mind are disciplined.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā answers Rāma’s fear for her safety by asserting that hardship is not decisive for the self-controlled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Inner discipline—Sītā presents courage grounded in restraint and steadiness rather than mere optimism.