Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 6

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Spoken by Sumitra to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhya (instruction before departure)Pre-journey ethical injunction

Devanagari script

व्यसनी वा समृद्धो वा गतिरेष तवानघ ।

एष लोके सतां धर्मो यज्ज्येष्ठवशगो भवेत् ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.6

Transliteration

vyasanī vā samṛddho vā gatir eṣa tavānagha |

eṣa loke satāṁ dharmo yaj jyeṣṭhavaśago bhavet ||6||

Translation

في الشدّة كما في الرخاء، هو ملجؤك، يا بريئًا من العيب. فهذا هو الدَّرما لأهل الصلاح في هذا العالم: أن يظلّ المرء خاضعًا للأخ الأكبر.

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Word by Word

• vyasanī: in adversity
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyasanin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘in adversity/afflicted’ (as a state)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• samṛddhaḥ: prosperous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘prosperous’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• gatiḥ: refuge/course
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• eṣā: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun qualifying gatiḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• tava: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• anagha: O sinless one
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• eṣaḥ: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• loke: in the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• satām: of the virtuous
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• dharmaḥ: duty/law
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• yat: that (namely)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage of यत् introducing a content clause (यत् = ‘that’), correlating with एषः
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• jyeṣṭha-vaśa-gaḥ: obedient to the elder brother
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (कृदन्त; गम् धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘gone under the control of the elder’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• bhavet: should be / may become
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• gatirēṣa → gatiḥ eṣā
• tavānagha → tava anagha
• yajjyēṣṭhavaśagō → yat jyeṣṭha-vaśa-gaḥ

Context

Rama is your refuge in times of adversity or prosperity, O sinless one! To beobedient to the eldest (brother) is the duty of virtuous men in this world.

The teaching

The dharma of the good is steadfast obedience to the elder; the elder brother is refuge in both adversity and prosperity.

Ethical theme

Kula-dharma / sadācāra (norms of the virtuous)

How it resolves

Normative injunction (ācāra)

For your practice

Daily practice of humility and alignment with rightful guidance; supports sevā-bhāva and discipline.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Principled, steady, reassuring

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Brotherhood
• Obedience
• Dependence on the righteous

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is defined as loyal obedience to the elder brother and taking refuge in righteousness (Rāma) in both suffering and success.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations for departure are underway, Sumitrā instructs Lakṣmaṇa on how to orient his life around Rāma’s leadership.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial-brotherly devotion and humility: Lakṣmaṇa is urged to serve and follow the rightful elder.