Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 7

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

स चीरे पुरुषव्याघ्रः कैकेय्या प्रतिगृह्य ते।सूक्ष्मवस्त्रमवक्षिप्य मुनिवस्त्राण्यवस्त ह।।2.37.7।।

Transliteration

sa cīre puruṣavyāghraḥ kaikeyyā pratigṛhya te | sūkṣmavastram avakṣipya munivastrāṇy avasta ha || 2.37.7 ||

Translation

راما، نمرُ الرجال، تسلّم من كايكيي ثياب اللحاء؛ فطرح ثيابه الناعمة وارتدى لباسَ الناسك.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चीरे: two bark garments
• चीरे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (Dual)

• पुरुषव्याघ्रः: tiger among men (best of men)
• पुरुषव्याघ्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (man-tiger = best among men)

• कैकेय्या: from Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्या: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• प्रतिगृह्य: having received
• प्रतिगृह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati√grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• ते: those (two)
• ते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; refers to चीरे

• सूक्ष्मवस्त्रम्: fine clothing
• सूक्ष्मवस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkṣma + vastra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (fine + garment)

• अवक्षिप्य: having cast off, removing
• अवक्षिप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• मुनिवस्त्राणि: ascetic robes
• मुनिवस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + vastra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sage's garments)

• अवस्त: put on, wore
• अवस्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरण/ख्यात्यर्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

Context

The tiger among men (Rama) received the bark robes from Kaikeyi and putting off the fine apparel wore the robes of an ascetic.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• bark garments (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma as truthful adherence to a pledged course of action: Rāma accepts the external signs of exile without resistance, embodying integrity and self-restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

At court, immediately before departing for forest-exile, Rāma receives bark garments and changes from royal attire into ascetic clothing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga and steadiness (dhṛti): he relinquishes comfort and status calmly, signaling inner discipline.