Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 23

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु सा चिन्तां मैथिली समुपागता।स्नापयन्तीव गामुष्णैरश्रुभिर्नयनच्युतैः।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktā tu sā cintāṃ maithilī samupāgatā | snāpayantīva gām uṣṇair aśrubhir nayanacyutaiḥ ||

Translation

Ainsi interpellée, Maithili sombra dans l'angoisse, baignant la terre de larmes brûlantes tombant de ses yeux.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय

• उक्ता: having been addressed
• उक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘having been spoken to’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिन्ताम्: anxiety/grief
• चिन्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• समुपागता: entered/was overcome by
• समुपागता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—प्राप्तवती (having reached/entered)

• स्नापयन्ती: as if bathing/drenching
• स्नापयन्ती: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (like/as if)

• गाम्: the earth/ground
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उष्णैः: with warm
• उष्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक/स्त्री—यहाँ तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अश्रुभिः)

• अश्रुभिः: with tears
• अश्रुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• नयनच्युतैः: fallen from the eyes
• नयनच्युतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक) + च्युत (प्रातिपदिक; √च्यु)
• Form: पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नयनात् च्युत = fallen from the eyes); तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (अश्रुभिः)

Context

That self-possessed scion of the Kakutstha dynasty consoled the copper-red-lipped Sita in several ways to dissuade her (from going to the forest).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkōnatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentyninth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Maithilī)
• earth/ground (gā)

FAQs

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

It portrays the human cost of dharma-driven decisions: righteousness may demand painful choices, and compassion must address the suffering it causes.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s refusal, Sītā becomes overwhelmed with sorrow and weeps intensely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s depth of attachment and sincerity: her tears signal genuine commitment rather than mere argument.