Shloka 42

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

आरभस्व शुभश्रोणि वनवासक्षमाः क्रियाः।नेदानीं त्वदृते सीते स्वर्गोऽपि मम रोचते।।2.30.42।।

Transliteration

ārabhasva śubhaśroṇi vanavāsakṣamāḥ kriyāḥ |

na idānīṃ tvadṛte sīte svargo 'pi mama rocate ||2.30.42||

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.

Word by Word

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

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

• vana-vāsa-kṣamāḥ: suitable for forest-dwelling
• vana-vāsa-kṣamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of 'kriyāḥ')
• 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')

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

Having come to know that her departure to the forest is acceptable to her husband, Sita, highly delighted, quickly got ready to give away (things).

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.