Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 7

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूता गिरिकन्दर वासिनाम्।सिंहानां निनदा दुःखा श्श्रोतुं दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.7।।

Transliteration

girinirjharasambhūtā girikandaravāsinām |

siṃhānāṃ ninadā duḥkhāḥ śrotuṃ duḥkham ato vanam || 2.28.7 ||

Translation

The sounds—born of mountain waterfalls and the roars of lions that dwell in rocky caves—are painful and frightening to hear; therefore, life in the forest is suffering.

Word by Word

• गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूताः: arisen from mountain-cascades
• गिरिनिर्झरसम्भूताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि-निर्झर-सम्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन (pl.), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.) प्रथमा (Nom.); ‘सम्भूत’ = भू (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) with सम्-; समासः: गिरिणां निर्झराः (mountain-streams) तेषां सम्भूताः = arising from mountain-cascades; विशेषणम् ‘निनदाः’

• गिरिकन्दरवासिनाम्: of the cave-dwellers of the mountains
• गिरिकन्दरवासिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि-कन्दर-वासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen./सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘वासिन्’ (inhabitant)

• सिंहानाम्: of lions
• सिंहानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• निनदाः: roars/sounds
• निनदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• दुःखाः: painful/terrifying
• दुःखाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘निनदाः’ विशेषणम्

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), “to hear”

• दुःखम्: pain/suffering
• दुःखम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as predicate: “(it is) pain”

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निगमनार्थक (therefore)

• वनम्: the forest (life)
• वनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

Born in a noble race, O Sita, you are always devoted to duty. Follow your duty, here. It will make me happy.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• siṃha (lion)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsible foresight: one must consider not only ideals but the concrete conditions that can undermine safety and composure.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma illustrates forest hardship through sensory realities—terrifying natural sounds and predators—strengthening his argument.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective discernment—Rāma anticipates the psychological strain Sītā may face.