Shloka 40

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

सा हि सृष्टाऽनवद्याङ्गि वनाय मदिरेक्षणे।अनुगच्छस्व मां भीरु सहधर्मचरी भव।।2.30.40।।

Transliteration

sā hi sṛṣṭā ’navadyāṅgi vanāya madirekṣaṇe |

anugacchasva māṃ bhīru saha-dharma-carī bhava ||2.30.40||

Translation

O Sita mit bezaubernden Augen, mit makellosen Gliedern—sanfte Sita—du bist wahrlich für das Waldleben geschaffen; folge mir und werde meine Gefährtin im Dharma.

Word by Word

• sā: you (she)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/हेतु-प्राय)

• sṛṣṭā: created
• sṛṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sṛj (सृज्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'created'

• anavadya-aṅgi: O faultless-limbed one
• anavadya-aṅgi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anavadya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose limbs are faultless'

• vanāya: for the forest (life)
• vanāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• madira-īkṣaṇe: O one with enchanting eyes
• madira-īkṣaṇe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madira (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose eyes are intoxicating'

• anugacchasva: follow
• anugacchasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gam (गम्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhīru: O timid/gentle one
• bhīru: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha-dharma-cārī: companion in dharma
• saha-dharma-cārī: Karma (कर्म; predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + cārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: 'one who acts together in dharma'

• bhava: become
• bhava: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

O one with fascinating eyes and exquisite beauty you were born to live in the forest. O gentle lady, assist me in carrying out my duties.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Marriage is framed as shared duty: the ideal spouse is a sahadharma-cāriṇī—one who walks together in righteous responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama responds to Sita’s resolve by inviting her to accompany him, acknowledging her role as a partner in dharma during exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mutual commitment: Rama’s acceptance of Sita’s companionship and Sita’s readiness for hardship in the path of dharma.