Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 9

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

रामं दशरथं विद्धि मां विद्धि जनकात्मजाम्।अयोध्यामटवीं विध्दि गच्छ तात यथासुखम्।।।।

Transliteration

rāmaṁ daśarathaṁ viddhi māṁ viddhi janakātmajām |

ayodhyām aṭavīṁ viddhi gaccha tāta yathāsukham ||

Translation

„Wisse Rāma als Daśaratha; wisse mich als Sītā, Janakas Tochter; wisse den Wald als Ayodhyā. Geh, mein Kind, in Frieden.“

Word by Word

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• daśaratham: Daśaratha
• daśaratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object-complement with vidhi (know X as Y)

• viddhi: know (as)
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• viddhi: know (as)
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• janaka-ātmajām: Janaka’s daughter (Sita)
• janaka-ātmajām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘daughter of Janaka’

• ayodhyām: Ayodhya
• ayodhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• aṭavīm: forest
• aṭavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṭavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• viddhi: know (as)
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• tāta: dear child
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• yathā-sukham: as you please / in comfort
• yathā-sukham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb; ‘according to comfort/at ease’

Context

(To Lakshmana she said) Regard Rama as Dasaratha, Sita as me and the forest as Ayodhya. My child, go in peace.

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Sītā
• Janaka
• Ayodhyā
• forest (aṭavī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is service with the right inner attitude: treat the elder as father, the elder’s wife as mother, and hardship as home—so duty is performed without resentment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumitrā sends Lakṣmaṇa to accompany Rāma and Sītā, giving him a mental discipline for exile-life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sevā (devoted service) and equanimity: Lakṣmaṇa is guided to transform exile into purposeful, peaceful duty.