Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 12

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वस्तव्यानि वने त्वया।तान्युपक्रमितव्यानि यानि देव्यासि चोदितः।।।।

Transliteration

caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi vastavyāni vane tvayā | tāny upakramitavyāni yāni devyāsi coditaḥ ||2.40.12||

Translation

En verdad, durante catorce años has de morar en el bosque; esos años, ordenados por la reina, deben comenzar a contarse desde ahora.

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास/संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् विशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally) qualifying वर्षाणि

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निपात) emphasizing/indeed

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वस्तव्यानि: to be dwelt (must be lived)
• वस्तव्यानि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate) with implied 'भवति'

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartrikarana (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीय-पुरुष सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• तानि: those (years)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; refers to 'years'

• उपक्रमितव्यानि: to be commenced/undertaken
• उपक्रमितव्यानि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-kram (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'to be undertaken/commenced'

• यानि: which
• यानि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to 'तानि'

• देव्या: by the queen (Kaikeyi)
• देव्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चोदितः: directed/commanded
• चोदितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cud (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; with 'असि' = passive perfect sense

Context

You have been directed by Kaikeyi to live in the forest for fourteen years. Accordingly you must now commence counting those years as directed.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Kaikeyī (devī/queen)
• forest (vana)
• fourteen years (caturdaśa varṣāṇi)

FAQs

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

Dharma as acceptance of rightful command and truth of obligation: the exile term is stated plainly, emphasizing adherence to pledged words (boons) and the consequences of royal decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

The directive is articulated: Rāma must live in the forest for fourteen years, as ordered by the queen, and the exile period must begin immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness in communication and steadiness before hardship—stating the hard duty without evasion.