Shloka 17

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

पितुर्वाक्यानुरोधेन गतस्य विजनं वनम्।तावद्दर्शनमस्या नः सफलं भवतु प्रभो।।2.37.17।।

Transliteration

pitur vākyānurodhena gatasya vijanaṁ vanam | tāvad darśanam asyā naḥ saphalaṁ bhavatu prabho || 2.37.17 ||

Translation

„O Herr, da du dem Wort deines Vaters folgend in den einsamen Wald aufbrichst, lass unser Schauen ihrer fruchtbar sein: gewähre uns ihre Gegenwart wenigstens bis dahin.“

Word by Word

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

• वाक्य-अनुरोधेन: by obedience to the words
• वाक्य-अनुरोधेन: करण (Karana/Instrumental: by obedience)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य + अनुरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वाक्यस्य अनुरोधः)

• गतस्य: of (you) having gone
• गतस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive absolute-like dependent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of you who have gone’

• विजनम्: desolate
• विजनम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वनम्-विशेषणम्

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (goal as object with गतस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तावत्: till then, so long
• तावत्: कालाधिकरण-विशेषण (temporal limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (till then/so long)

• दर्शनम्: seeing, audience
• दर्शनम्: कर्ता (subject of भवतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्याः: of her (Sita)
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• नः: for us
• नः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-बहुवचन-रूपम्; अत्र चतुर्थी-अर्थे (for us)

• सफलम्: fruitful
• सफलम्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दर्शनम्-विशेषणम्

• भवतु: may it be
• भवतु: क्रिया (injunctive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

Go, O son! to the forest with Lakshmana as your companion. (But) this auspicious Sita, will not be able to live in the jungle like a hermit.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Dasharatha
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Satya and dharma as filial obedience are acknowledged (Rama follows Dasharatha’s word), while the community seeks a compassionate allowance—time for farewell and blessing.

What is the narrative situation?

The palace women accept that Rama must go, and beg for continued access to Sita before the separation becomes final.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhakti and affection expressed through a respectful plea—seeking darśana as a meaningful final connection.