Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 24

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

कृतकृत्या हि वैदेही छायेवानुगता पतिम्।न जहाति रता धर्मे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा।।।।

Transliteration

kṛtakṛtyā hi vaidehī chāyevā’nugatā patim | na jahāti ratā dharme merum arka-prabhā yathā ||

Translation

Vaidehī, die ihr wahres Ziel erfüllt wähnt und dem Dharma ergeben ist, verlässt ihren Gemahl nicht; sie folgt ihm wie ein Schatten, wie der Sonnenglanz, der den Berg Meru nie verlässt.

Word by Word

• kṛta-kṛtyā: having fulfilled her purpose
• kṛta-kṛtyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + kṛtya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (कृ) + क्त; kṛtya as noun)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (kṛtaṃ kṛtyaṃ yayā = one whose duty is done/fulfilled)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• vaidehī: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (Sita)

• chāyā: shadow
• chāyā: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक (like)

• anugatā: having followed
• anugatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + √gam (गम्) + क्त
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): having followed

• patim: husband
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• jahāti: leaves/abandons
• jahāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (हा)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ratā: devoted
• ratā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ram (रम्) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: devoted/attached

• dharme: in duty
• dharme: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विषय-सप्तमी (in duty)

• merum: Mount Meru
• merum: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमेय-सम्बद्ध उपमान (object in comparison)

• arka-prabhā: sunlight
• arka-prabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (arkasya prabhā = sunlight)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक (as/like)

Context

Sita, deeply attached to her duty, and with her desire fulfilled is following her husband like a shadow just as the sunlight which never leaves mount Meru.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Rāma (pati)
• Meru
• arka (sun)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast marital fidelity grounded in righteousness: Sītā treats shared hardship as part of her sacred duty, choosing companionship in exile over comfort in the palace.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma is exiled, Sītā insists on accompanying him; the people describe her unwavering commitment through vivid similes (shadow/sunlight on Meru).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s constancy (niṣṭhā) and dharma-centered devotion—she does not separate her life-path from her husband’s righteous path.