Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 12

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः · Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रं च सन्तोषः कर्तव्यो नियतात्मना ।

फलैर्वृक्षावपतितै स्सीते दुःखमतो वनम् ॥१२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.12

Transliteration

ahorātraṁ ca santoṣaḥ kartavyo niyatātmanā |

phalair vṛkṣāvapatitaiḥ sīte duḥkham ato vanam ||12||

Translation

O Sītā, bei gezügeltem Selbst muss man Tag und Nacht Zufriedenheit üben und sich mit den von den Bäumen herabgefallenen Früchten begnügen; darum ist der Wald ein Leben des Leids.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• अहोरात्रम्: day and night
• अहोरात्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहः-रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (day+night) नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणम्: “day and night”

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• कर्तव्यः: must be practiced
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधि/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligative), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); “to be done/should be practiced”; ‘सन्तोषः’ विधेय-विशेषणम्

• नियतात्मना: by the self-controlled person
• नियतात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियत-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr./करण), एकवचन (sg.); “by one whose self/senses are controlled”

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• वृक्षावपतितैः: fallen from trees
• वृक्षावपतितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृक्ष-अवपतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘फलैः’ विशेषणम्; ‘अवपतित’ = अव-पत् (धातु) क्त (fallen down)

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); predicate

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; therefore

• वनम्: forest (life)
• वनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

With the senses under control night and day, O Sita, one must be satisfied with the fruits fallen from trees. Therefore, forest life is full of suffering.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• vana (forest)
• vṛkṣa (trees)
• phala (fruits)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches disciplined contentment (santoṣa) as dharma: righteous living includes restraint and acceptance of minimal sustenance without complaint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains that forest life demands constant self-control and simple living, discouraging Sītā from choosing hardship lightly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ascetic discipline—self-restraint and contentment under scarcity.