Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 3

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

सीते महाकुलीनाऽसि धर्मे च निरता सदा।इहाऽचर स्वधर्मं त्वं मे यथा मनसस्सुखम्।।2.28.3।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.3

Transliteration

sīte mahākulīnā ’si dharme ca niratā sadā |

ihācara svadharmaṃ tvaṃ me yathā manasaḥ sukham || 2.28.3 ||

Translation

Oh Sītā, naciste en noble linaje y siempre estás entregada al dharma. Permanece aquí y cumple tu propio deber recto, para que mi mente halle sosiego.

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Word by Word

• सीते: O Sītā
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महाकुलीना: of noble lineage
• महाकुलीना: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective of ‘asi’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘महती कुलीना’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• धर्मे: in dharma/duty
• धर्मे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विषय-अधिकरण (in dharma/duty)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• निरता: devoted
• निरता: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + रम्/र (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘engaged/devoted’ (adjectival)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (here)

• आचर: practice/perform
• आचर: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वधर्मम्: your own duty
• स्वधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘स्वस्य धर्मः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-प्रयोगे संबोधनार्थं न; सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of me/to me’ (genitive/dative form मे)

• यथा: as/so that
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/so that)

• मनसः: of (my) mind
• मनसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Phala (फल) (result: happiness)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; फलवाचक (result)

Context

There are various physical afflictions and fears for one who lives in the forest. Therefore, forest brings suffering.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• dharma

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes svadharma—fulfilling one’s rightful duty according to one’s role and situation—as a stabilizing force that preserves righteousness and inner peace.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma addresses Sītā in Ayodhyā, urging her to remain behind rather than accompany him into forest exile, framing his counsel in terms of dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s prudence and protective responsibility (maryādā) are highlighted, as he appeals to Sītā’s devotion to dharma while seeking her welfare and his own peace of mind.