Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 13

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

कन्यया च पितुर्गेहे वनवास श्शृतो मया।भिक्षिण्या स्साधुवृत्ताया मम मातुरिहाग्रतः।।।।

Transliteration

kanyayā ca pitur gehe vanavāsaḥ śruto mayā | bhikṣiṇyā sādhuvṛttāyā mama mātur ihāgrataḥ || 2.29.13 ||

Translation

Schon als ich noch ein Mädchen im Hause meines Vaters war, hörte ich von diesem Waldaufenthalt; eine tugendhafte Bettlerin erzählte davon in Gegenwart meiner Mutter.

Word by Word

• कन्यया: as a girl (when young)
• कन्यया: Hetu/avastha (हेतु/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गेहे: in the house
• गेहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वनवासः: forest-life
• वनवासः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः वन+वास (तत्पुरुषः)

• श्रुतः: was heard
• श्रुतः: Kriya (क्रिया/implicit passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• भिक्षिण्या: by a mendicant woman
• भिक्षिण्या: Karana/agent-assoc (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• साधुवृत्तायाः: of good conduct
• साधुवृत्तायाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधुवृत्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः साधु+वृत्ता (कर्मधारयः: good-conducted)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (indeclinable-like genitive form)

• मातुः: of (my) mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• अग्रतः: in the presence (of)
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (in front/presence of)

Context

When I was young in my father's house, a holy female mendicant foretold in the presence of my mother that I would dwell in the forest (in this life).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Sītā’s father (Janaka, implied)
• vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Respect for truthful testimony and sacred speech: Sītā treats the ascetic’s words as morally weighty, integrating them into her sense of rightful action.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā provides background for her resolve, recalling an earlier statement/foretelling heard in her parental home.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steady conviction—Sītā’s determination is shown as long-formed, not impulsive.