Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.26 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 26

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

स स्वभावविनीतश्च गौरवाच्च तदा नतः।प्रस्थितो दण्डकारण्यमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे।।।।

Transliteration

sa svabhāvavinītaś ca gauravāc ca tadā nataḥ | prasthito daṇḍakāraṇyam āpraṣṭum upacakrame ||

Translation

Rāma, von Natur aus bescheiden und damals aus Ehrfurcht verneigt, begann seine Mutter um Erlaubnis zu bitten, da er im Begriff war, in den Daṇḍaka-Wald aufzubrechen.

Word by Word

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

• स्वभाव-विनीतः: modest by nature
• स्वभाव-विनीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + विनीत (कृदन्त; वि+नी धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘स्वभावेन विनीतः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• गौरवात्: out of reverence
• गौरवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• नतः: bowed/humble
• नतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त; नम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to सः)

• प्रस्थितः: set out/ready to depart
• प्रस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्थित (कृदन्त; प्र+स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to सः)

• दण्डकारण्यम्: Dandaka forest
• दण्डकारण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘दण्डकानां अरण्यम्’

• आप्रष्टुम्: to ask/seek permission
• आप्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+प्रश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• उपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• उपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Context

Modest by nature, Rama with respectful humility began seeking her permission for his departure to Dandaka forest:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daṇḍaka forest

FAQs

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

Even under personal calamity, Rama upholds maryādā (proper conduct): he approaches his mother with humility and seeks her consent, honoring familial and social duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is about to depart for exile to the Daṇḍaka forest and begins to ask Kausalya for permission and blessings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility/modesty) and mātṛ-bhakti (reverent devotion to one’s mother).