Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 26

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

महत्येषा हि ते सिध्दिरेष चाभ्युदयो महान्।एष स्वर्गस्य मार्गश्च यदेनमनुगच्छसि।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.26

Transliteration

mahaty eṣā hi te siddhir eṣa cābhyudayo mahān | eṣa svargasya mārgaś ca yad enam anugacchasi ||

Translation

Wahrlich, dies ist für dich eine große Errungenschaft und ein großer Zuwachs an Verdienst, da du ihm folgst; ja, dies ist der Weg zum Himmel.

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Word by Word

• mahatī: great
• mahatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies siddhiḥ)

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (indeed/for)

• te: for you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; दत्त-सम्बन्ध (for you/your)

• siddhiḥ: success/attainment
• siddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• abhyudayaḥ: prosperity/rise
• abhyudayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhyudaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies abhyudayaḥ)

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• svargasya: of heaven
• svargasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• mārgaḥ: path
• mārgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• yat: because/that
• yat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; यदर्थे (the fact that/because)

• enam: him (Rama)
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this him = Rama)

• anugacchasi: you follow
• anugacchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + √gam (गम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

The very fact that you are following Rama is a great achievement and a great fortune for you. This, in fact, is the way to heaven.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through companionship with the righteous: following and supporting a virtuous person (here, Rāma) is presented as spiritually elevating and merit-producing.

What is the narrative situation?

The people comment on the greatness of accompanying Rāma into exile, framing Lakṣmaṇa’s choice as a noble, heaven-leading act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s devotion and moral courage—choosing hardship with righteousness over ease without it.