Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 2

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः

The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

निवर्तितेऽपि च बलात्सुहृद्वर्गे च राजनि।नैव ते संन्यवर्तन्त रामस्यानुगता रथम्।।।।

Transliteration

nivartite ’pi ca balāt suhṛdvarge ca rājani |

naiva te saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham ||

Translation

Bien que le roi et le cercle des amis eussent été contraints de rebrousser chemin, ceux qui avaient suivi Rāma ne revinrent nullement ; ils poursuivirent la marche derrière son char.

Word by Word

• nivartite: even when (they were) turned back
• nivartite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु; वृत्त्/वृत्)
• Form: Saptamī (Loc, 7th), Ekavacana; kta (past passive participle) used in locative absolute sense: 'when (they were) turned back'

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle) expressing concession

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

• balāt: forcibly
• balāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग/पुं (commonly neuter in sense), Pañcamī (Abl, 5th), Ekavacana; adverbial ablative

• suhṛdvarge: in the group of friends
• suhṛdvarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd-varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: suhṛdāṃ vargaḥ (group of friends)

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

• rājani: (even) when the king (was involved) / in the king's case
• rājani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha (negation particle)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa (emphatic particle)

• te: they/those (people)
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• saṃnyavartanta: turned back/returned
• saṃnyavartanta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ni-√vṛt (धातु; वृत्त्/वृत्)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana

• anugatāḥ: having followed
• anugatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of te)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (past active sense here): 'having followed'

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म; object of anugatāḥ in sense 'followed the chariot')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

All animals, especially horses have a keen sense of hearing. Therefore, having listened to our entreaty, turn back.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• the King (Daśaratha)
• chariot

FAQs

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

The verse highlights steadfast loyalty to dharma and to a righteous person: people remain committed to Rama despite royal orders, implying that moral authority can outweigh coercive power.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds toward exile, the king and others are compelled to go back, but many followers continue trailing Rama’s chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The followers’ steadfast devotion and moral resolve; implicitly, Rama’s worthiness that inspires such adherence.