Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 17

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

यथालब्धेन कर्तव्यः सन्तोषस्तेन मैथिलि।यताहारैर्वनचरै र्नित्यं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.17।।

Transliteration

yathā-labdhena kartavyaḥ santoṣas tena maithili |

yatāhārair vana-carair nityaṃ duḥkham ato vanam ||2.28.17||

Translation

O Maithilī, those who dwell in the forest, living on scant fare, must be content with whatever is obtained; therefore life in the forest is a constant hardship.

Word by Word

• yathālabdhena: with whatever is obtained
• yathālabdhena: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (यथा अव्यय) + labdha (लभ् धातु + क्त)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa (adverbial compound: 'as obtained'); Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana (instrumental singular) used adverbially with kartavyaḥ

• kartavyaḥ: should be cultivated
• kartavyaḥ: Vidhi (विधि/obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (तव्य प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (gerundive/obligative), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with santoṣaḥ

• santoṣaḥ: contentment
• santoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: santoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• tena: with that alone
• tena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument: 'with that')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• maithili: O Maithili
• maithili: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• yatāhāraiḥ: with limited food
• yatāhāraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yata (यत प्रातिपदिक) + āhāra (आहार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative: 'restricted-food'); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Bahuvacana; qualifies vanacaraiḥ

• vanacaraiḥ: by forest-dwellers
• vanacaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument: 'by forest-dwellers')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (वन) + cara (चर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (forest-wanderers); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb: 'always')

• duḥkham: painful
• duḥkham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective for vanam

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (causal adverb: 'therefore')

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

There is extreme wind and darkness, hunger and fear. Therefore forest (life) is difficult.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is inner restraint: contentment with limited means (santoṣa) and disciplined consumption (yatāhāra) are essential to righteous living in hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma highlights the daily scarcity of food in the forest to caution Sītā against the realities of exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Simplicity and self-control—accepting what comes without complaint.