Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 1

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सीता रामस्य दुःखिता।प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखी मन्दमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā sītā rāmasya duḥkhitā | prasaktāśru-mukhī mandam idaṃ vacanam abravīt || 2.29.1 ||

Translation

Entendant les paroles de Rāma, Sītā, accablée, le visage ruisselant de larmes sans fin, dit doucement ces mots d’une voix faible.

Word by Word

• ye: which (those)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (refers to doṣāḥ)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• kīrtitāḥ: described, mentioned
• kīrtitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīrt (धातु) + kta (क्त) → kīrtita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies doṣāḥ)

• doṣāḥ: faults, drawbacks
• doṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vastavyatām: the necessity of dwelling
• vastavyatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vas (धातु) + tavya (तव्य) → vastavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + -tā
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक (gerundive: to be dwelt) + ता-प्रत्यय (abstract noun); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prati: with regard to
• prati: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्गसदृश-प्रयोग (preposition: towards/with regard to)

• guṇān: virtues
• guṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (M), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; (predicate object with viddhi: know them as virtues)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis: only/indeed)

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग (M), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (refers to doṣāḥ)

• viddhi: know, understand
• viddhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• snehapuraskṛtān: prompted by affection
• snehapuraskṛtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + puras (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु) + kta → puraskṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: स्नेहः पुरतः कृतः येषाम् (placed in front by affection); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग (M), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies tān)

Context

Having heard the words of Rama, thus spoke Sita in a faint voice in sadness, with tears flowing incessantly from her eyes:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse sets the ethical tone of sincere speech rooted in emotional truth: Sītā responds with transparent feeling, preparing to articulate her dharma as a devoted spouse.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after Rāma describes forest dangers, Sītā begins her reply, visibly distressed yet determined.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness and emotional sincerity—she does not hide grief, yet she gathers herself to speak what she believes is right.