Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.26 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 26

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः

The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

न पुनर्निश्चयः कार्यस्त्वद्गतौ सुकृता मतिः।त्वयि धर्मव्यपेक्षे तु किं स्याद्धर्मपथे स्थितम्।।।।

Transliteration

na punar niścayaḥ kāryas tvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ | tvayi dharmavyapekṣe tu kiṁ syād dharmapathe sthitam ||

Translation

Es soll kein zweiter Entschluss gefasst werden: Unser Vorsatz, mit dir zu gehen, steht fest. Doch wenn du selbst hier das Dharma missachtest, was wird dann auf dem Pfad der Rechtschaffenheit bestehen bleiben?

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb

• निश्चयः: decision, resolve
• निश्चयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कार्यः: to be made/should be done
• कार्यः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; gerundive (तव्यत्/यत् sense) used predicatively: 'to be done'

• त्वद्-गतौ: in your going/journey
• त्वद्-गतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—त्वया/त्वत्सम्बन्धिनी गतिः

• सुकृता: well-set, well-made
• सुकृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + कृ (धातु) → सुकृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त) agreeing with मतिः

• मतिः: mind, intention
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धर्म-व्यपेक्षे: (when you are) indifferent to dharma
• धर्म-व्यपेक्षे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यपेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; adjective agreeing with त्वयि; समासः—धर्मं व्यपेक्षते इति (one who disregards/looks away from dharma)

• तु: but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adversative particle

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• धर्म-पथे: on the path of righteousness
• धर्म-पथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—धर्मस्य पथः

• स्थितम्: remaining, left
• स्थितम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त) used as predicate: 'remaining/left'

Context

We are not going to revoke our decision. We have made up our minds to follow you (into the forest). If you have no regard for this decision, then who will adhere to the path of righteousness?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• dharma (righteousness)

FAQs

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

Dharma depends on exemplary leadership: when the righteous model (Rama) upholds dharma, society stands firm; if he abandons it, the very standard of righteousness collapses.

What is the narrative situation?

The Brahmins insist they will accompany Rama and argue that Rama’s own commitment to dharma must include honoring their plea, since he is the moral center for others.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral responsibility of the ideal person: the duty to sustain dharma not only personally but as a guiding norm for the community.