Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ता श्शून्ये महामृगाः ।

दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.8

Transliteration

krīḍamānāś ca visrabdhā mattā śūnye mahāmṛgāḥ |

dṛṣṭvā samabhivartante sīte duḥkham ato vanam ||8||

Translation

Im einsamen Wald tollen große wilde Tiere—furchtlos, gleichsam berauscht von ihrer Freiheit—umher; und sobald sie einen Menschen sehen, stürzen sie zum Angriff heran. Darum, o Sita, ist der Wald Leid.

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Word by Word

• क्रीडमानाः: sporting/playing
• क्रीडमानाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

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

• विस्रब्धाः: fearless/unwary
• विस्रब्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्रब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

• मत्ताः: maddened/wild
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

• शून्ये: in a deserted place
• शून्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.)

• महामृगाः: great beasts
• महामृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महा’ + ‘मृग’ (great animals)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), “having seen”

• समभिवर्तन्ते: rush upon/attack
• समभिवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), आत्मनेपद; “they rush upon/attack”

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

Big, wild animals, moving about freely and sporting in the deserted forest, attack on seeing a human. Thus forest is full of danger.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not merely intention but safeguarding life: a righteous path requires acknowledging threats that can obstruct duty and wellbeing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues enumerating dangers, stressing that the forest is not a controlled human space but a realm of unpredictable animal aggression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective responsibility and realism in counsel.