Shloka 33

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

अस्वाधीनं कथं दैवं प्रकारैरभिराध्यते।स्वाधीनं समतिक्रम्य मातरं पितरं गुरुम्।।2.30.33।।

Transliteration

asvādhīnaṃ kathaṃ daivaṃ prakārair abhirādhyate |

svādhīnaṃ samatikramya mātaraṃ pitaraṃ gurum ||2.30.33||

Translation

Wie könnte man das Göttliche, das nicht unmittelbar erreichbar ist, auf irgendeine Weise verehren, wenn man über das hinwegschreitet, was in unserer Nähe ist: Mutter, Vater und Lehrer?

Word by Word

• अस्वाधीनम्: not under one’s control
• अस्वाधीनम्: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्वाधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (daivam)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• दैवम्: fate/divinity
• दैवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here: प्रथमा (subject of abhirādhyate)

• प्रकारैः: by means/ways
• प्रकारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अभिराध्यते: is propitiated/worshipped
• अभिराध्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√राध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is propitiated)

• स्वाधीनम्: within one’s control
• स्वाधीनम्: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (mātaram…gurum) collectively

• समतिक्रम्य: having transgressed
• समतिक्रम्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अति-√क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund); ‘having overstepped/disrespected’

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher/preceptor
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Mother, father and preceptor are present before us. By overstepping them, how can we, in various ways, worship God who is beyond reach (not visible)?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• mother
• father
• guru
• daiva (Divine)

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with honoring those immediately responsible for one’s life and moral formation—mother, father, and teacher. Reverence to the unseen Divine is incomplete if these visible duties are neglected.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is speaking to Sita while reflecting on dharma and right conduct as he prepares to follow his father’s command and depart toward forest life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s humility and moral clarity: he prioritizes concrete duties (service to parents and guru) as the foundation of spiritual life.