Shloka 25

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

अथ यास्यति वैदेही वनं रामेण सङ्गता।वयमप्यनुयास्यामः पुरं चेदं गमिष्यति।।2.37.25।।

Transliteration

atha yāsyati vaidehī vanaṃ rāmeṇa saṅgatā |

vayam apy anuyāsyāmaḥ puraṃ cedaṃ gamiṣyati ||

Translation

Wenn Vaidehī (Sītā) mit Rāma in den Wald zieht, werden auch wir folgen; ja, diese ganze Stadt wird mitgehen.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla-sambandha (काल/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (sequence: then/now)

• yāsyati: will go
• yāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• vaidehī: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• rāmeṇa: with Rama
• rāmeṇa: Sahakāraka (सह/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• saṅgatā: joined; accompanied
• saṅgatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ + gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle), Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; agrees with vaidehī

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (common pronoun), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/additive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (also/even)

• anuyāsyāmaḥ: will follow
• anuyāsyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + yā (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Bahuvacana (Plural), Parasmaipada

• puram: the city
• puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of puram)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with puram

• gamiṣyati: will go
• gamiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

Otherwise, if Sita goes with Rama to the forest, all of us along with the entire city will follow.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehi
• Rama
• Ayodhya

FAQs

Why does Vasistha declare that the city will follow Sita?

Vasistha uses this hyperbole to illustrate the collective devotion of Ayodhya's citizens. He argues that without Rama and Sita, the city loses its soul, and the people would prefer the hardships of the forest over a kingdom void of righteousness.

What is the ethical implication of Vasistha's statement regarding 'Vaidehi'?

By referring to Sita as 'Vaidehi' (Princess of Videha), Vasistha emphasizes her royal lineage and delicate nature, arguing that it is against Dharma to subject her to the harsh asceticism intended only for Rama, yet highlighting her unwavering commitment to Satya (truth) by following her husband.