Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

यजन् पुण्येषु देशेषु विसृजं श्चाप्तदक्षिणाः।ऋषिभिश्च समागम्य प्रवत्स्यति सुखं वने।।।।

Transliteration

yajan puṇyeṣu deśeṣu visṛjaṃś cāptadakṣiṇāḥ | ṛṣibhiś ca samāgamya pravatsyati sukhaṃ vane ||

Translation

Ofreciendo sacrificios en tierras santas, otorgando las debidas dádivas rituales (dakṣiṇā) y reuniéndose con los ṛṣis, vivirá feliz en el bosque.

Word by Word

• yajan: while sacrificing / performing worship
• yajan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Parasmaipada; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; agreeing with implied subject (rāmaḥ)

• puṇyeṣu: in holy
• puṇyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural; adjective qualifying deśeṣu

• deśeṣu: in places/regions
• deśeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी) Plural

• visṛjan: giving away / distributing
• visṛjan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: visṛj (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ), Parasmaipada; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; agreeing with implied subject

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• āpta-dakṣiṇāḥ: (with) appropriate sacrificial fees/gifts
• āpta-dakṣiṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpta (प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural; used predicatively/qualifying (yajñāḥ or dakṣiṇāḥ understood) meaning 'with proper gifts/fees'

• ṛṣibhiḥ: with sages
• ṛṣibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक) / Sahāyī (सहाय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• samāgamya: having met
• samāgamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त/ल्यबन्त), 'having met/assembled'

• pravatsyati: he will dwell/live
• pravatsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vas (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) / Periphrastic future; Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular

• sukham: happily/comfortably
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचनम्)

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

Context

Performing sacrifices in the holy places and liberally giving appropriate gifts, Rama will live happily in the forest in the company of sages.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• sages (ṛṣi)
• sacrifice (yajña)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as sustained by yajña (sacred duty), dāna (right giving), and ṛṣi-saṅga (guidance of the wise)—spiritual practice remains central even in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse depicts an idealized vision of Rāma’s forest life: ritual duty, generosity, and companionship with sages.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Piety and generosity—Rāma’s adherence to sacred duty and proper giving (dakṣiṇā) despite hardship.