Valmiki Ramayana 2.30.42: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 42

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः · Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Spoken by Rama to SitaSetting: Ayodhya (palace, immediate preparations)Places named: svarga (as realm, not place on earth)Transition: preparations for vanavāsa (forest-exile)

Devanagari script

आरभस्व शुभश्रोणि वनवासक्षमाः क्रियाः ।

नेदानीं त्वदृते सीते स्वर्गोऽपि मम रोचते ॥४२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.30.42

Transliteration

ārabhasva śubhaśroṇi vanavāsakṣamāḥ kriyāḥ |

na idānīṃ tvadṛte sīte svargo 'pi mama rocate ||42||

Translation

Beginne, o Sītā mit den schönen Hüften, die Vorbereitungen, die dem Waldleben entsprechen; denn jetzt, ohne dich, hat selbst der Himmel keinen Reiz für mich.

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Word by Word

• ārabhasva: begin, undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rabh (रभ्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• śubha-śroṇi: O fair-hipped one
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + śroṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose hips are beautiful'
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• vana-vāsa-kṣamāḥ: suitable for forest-dwelling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying 'kriyāḥ'; समासः: तत्पुरुष (vana-vāsa = 'forest-dwelling') + कर्मधारय (kṣamāḥ = 'capable/suitable')
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of 'kriyāḥ')
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kriyāḥ: acts, preparations
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया) / Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); here object of 'ārabhasva' → Accusative sense
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• idānīm: now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)

• tvadṛte: without you
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + ṛte (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'without you'; governs Ablative sense (पञ्चमी-अर्थ)
• Role: Apadana (अपादान; separation)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• sīte: O Sītā
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• svargaḥ: heaven
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• api: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि = 'even')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• mama: to me / for me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• rocate: pleases, appeals
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ruc (रुच्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• nedānīm→na idānīm
• svargo'pi→svargaḥ api

Context

O Sita, begin right now all preparations necessary for residing in the forest. O one, with beautiful buttocks, without you even the very heaven does not please me.

The teaching

When dharma is chosen, even heaven is secondary; shared resolve transforms hardship into purpose.

Duties in tension

• Royal comfort/householder ease vs duty of exile and obedience to paternal command
• Attachment to pleasure (svarga/comfort) vs commitment to shared dharma

Ethical theme

Rājadharma + gṛhastha-dharma (shared duty in adversity)

How it resolves

Embrace of renunciation through companionship

For your practice

Cultivating vairāgya and steadfast companionship in dharma; seeing higher purpose beyond comfort.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Ardent, resolute, renunciant

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Gṛhastha duty
• Companionship
• Ethics
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shared responsibility and faithful companionship: Rāma accepts Sītā’s participation in hardship, valuing righteous togetherness over personal comfort—even over heaven.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s insistence on joining him, Rāma consents and instructs her to begin practical preparations for forest exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to relational duty and truth of feeling, recognizing Sītā as essential partner in dharmic life.