Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 14

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

देवतानां पित्रूणां कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्।प्राप्तानामतिथीनां च नित्यशः प्रतिपूजनम्।।2.28.14।।

Transliteration

devatānāṃ pitr̥ūṇāṃ kartavyaṃ vidhi-pūrvakam |

prāptānām atithīnāṃ ca nityaśaḥ pratipūjanam ||2.28.14||

Translation

Man hat die Verehrung der Götter und der Ahnen ordnungsgemäß nach dem Ritus zu vollziehen; und ebenso sind die eintreffenden Gäste stets zu ehren und zu bewirten.

Word by Word

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• पित्रूणाम्: of the ancestors
• पित्रूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• कर्तव्यम्: duty (must be done)
• कर्तव्यम्: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive used substantively), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “what must be done/duty”

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to proper procedure
• विधिपूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि-पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative): duly/according to rule

• प्राप्तानाम्: of those who have arrived
• प्राप्तानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘अतिथीनाम्’ विशेषणम्; ‘प्राप्त’ = प्र-आप् (धातु) क्त (arrived)

• अतिथीनाम्: of guests
• अतिथीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

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

• नित्यशः: always
• नित्यशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; frequency adverb “always/regularly”

• प्रतिपूजनम्: proper reception/honouring
• प्रतिपूजनम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; verbal noun: “honouring/worship”

Context

One has to wander about all the while (like an ascetic) as per the customs and take ablutions three times a day at prescribed hours. Hence life in the forest is extremely hard.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• devatāḥ (gods)
• pitr̥s (ancestors)
• atithi (guest)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is ritual and social obligation: honoring gods, ancestors, and guests is a continual duty, emphasizing reverence, gratitude, and hospitality.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains that forest-life is not merely travel; it requires disciplined observance of duties and constant readiness for obligations, making it difficult for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s adherence to dharma and truthfulness: he presents the reality of duty-bound life without romanticizing exile.