Valmiki Ramayana 2.102.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 102, Shloka 21

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

सीता पुरस्ताद्व्रजतु त्वमेनामभितो व्रज।अहं पश्चाद्गमिष्यामि गतिर्ह्येषा सुदारुणा।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.102.21

Transliteration

sītā purastād vrajatu tvam enām abhito vraja |

ahaṃ paścād gamiṣyāmi gatir hy eṣā sudāruṇā ||

Translation

«Sītā soll vorangehen; du geh dicht bei ihr, zu beiden Seiten. Ich werde hinten gehen — denn dies ist wahrlich ein überaus schrecklicher Weg der Trauer.»

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Word by Word

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता; subject of vrajatu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरस्तात्: in front
• पुरस्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in front)

• व्रजतु: let (her) go
• व्रजतु: Kriyā (क्रिया; injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of vraja)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एनाम्: her
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभितः: around/on both sides (of her)
• अभितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; manner/position)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोऽर्थक अव्यय (adverb: around/on both sides)

• व्रज: go
• व्रज: Kriyā (क्रिया; command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of gamiṣyāmi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पश्चात्: behind/afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: behind/after)

• गमिष्यामि: I shall go
• गमिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गतिः: the course/procession
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/निश्चयार्थक

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to गतिः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुदारुणा: very terrible
• सुदारुणा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गतिः/एषा)

Context

Let us proceed in this order -- you first, Sita second and I last. This procession in mourning is terrible indeed.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective responsibility: Rama arranges movement so Sita is safeguarded and supported, showing that care for dependents continues even in ritual grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Preparing to go perform water-libations, Rama instructs Lakshmana on how to accompany and protect Sita during the sorrowful procession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s foresight and guardianship—he organizes roles to uphold safety, propriety, and emotional steadiness amid mourning.