Valmiki Ramayana 2.111.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 6

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest

Devanagari script

वृद्धाया धर्मशीलाया मातुर्नार्हस्यवर्तितुम्।अस्या हि वचनं कुर्वन्नातिवर्तेस्सतां गतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

vṛddhāyā dharmaśīlāyā mātur nārhasi avartitum | asyā hi vacanaṃ kurvan nātivartes satāṃ gatim ||

Translation

Sie ist deine betagte Mutter, standhaft in der Rechtschaffenheit; es ziemt sich nicht, ihr deinen Dienst zu verweigern. Indem du ihr Wort erfüllst, weichst du nicht vom Pfad der Tugendhaften.

Word by Word

• वृद्धायाः: of the aged
• वृद्धायाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of मातुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मशीलायाः: of the righteous-minded
• धर्मशीलायाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of मातुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + शील (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (one whose disposition is dharmic)

• मातुः: of (your) mother
• मातुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अवर्तितुम्: to turn away/neglect
• अवर्तितुम्: क्रिया-सम्पूरक (Infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-वृत् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive), नकार-निषेधेन 'नार्हसि अवर्तितुम्' = 'you should not refrain/turn away'

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• वचनम्: word/command
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्वन्: doing, obeying
• कुर्वन्: कर्ता (Agent participle referring to implied त्वम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अतिवर्तेः: you will not/should not transgress
• अतिवर्तेः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; निषेधेन 'नातिवर्तेः'

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गतिम्: path
• गतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Here is your aged and righteous mother. It does not behove you to deny your service to her. By obeying her, you will never deviate from the path of the virtuous.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Rāma
• mother (Kauśalyā implied)

FAQs

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

Mātṛ-sevā as dharma: serving and honoring one’s mother—especially one devoted to righteousness—is presented as a direct expression of the virtuous path.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid uncertainty about rule and exile, Vasiṣṭha anchors Rāma’s conduct in immediate household dharma: care for his mother.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate duty: steadfast readiness to serve elders and uphold familial obligations.