Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 16

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Spoken by Rama to CharioteerSetting: On journey; speaking of Sarayu-side forest (remembered)Places named: SarayuDeparting homeland; ethical reflection on pastimes

Devanagari script

नात्यर्थमभिकाङ्क्षामि मृगयां सरयूवने ।

रतिर्ह्येषातुला लोके राजर्षिगणसम्मता ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.16

Transliteration

nātyartham abhikāṅkṣāmi mṛgayāṁ sarayū-vane |

ratir hy eṣā ’tulā loke rājarṣi-gaṇa-sammatā ||16||

Translation

Je ne désire pas outre mesure la chasse dans la forêt au bord de la Sarayū ; pourtant ce divertissement est une joie sans égale en ce monde, tenue pour digne parmi les rishis royaux.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (negation particle)
• Role: Negation (निषेध)

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: excessively/greatly)
• Role: Degree (परिमाण)

• अभिकाङ्क्षामि: I desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• मृगयाम्: hunting
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सरयूवने: in the Sarayū forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयू + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सरय्वाः वनम् (forest of Sarayū)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• रतिḥ: delight/sport
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)
• Role: Discourse particle (निपात)

• एषा: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण रतिः
• Role: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• अतुला: incomparable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण रतिः
• Role: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• लोके: in the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• राजर्षिगणसम्मता: approved by royal sages
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजर्षि + गण + सम्मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण रतिः; तत्पुरुषः: राजर्षिगणेन सम्मता (approved by the group of royal sages)
• Role: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• नात्यर्थमभिकाङ्क्षामि → न + अत्यर्थम् + अभिकाङ्क्षामि
• रतिर्ह्येषातुला → रतिः + हि + एषा + अतुला (विसर्ग/यण्-सन्धि)

Context

In this world, hunting is a unique pleasure. It is regarded as a delightful sport forroyal sages. But I do not have a great longing for hunting in the forest on the bank of river Sarayu.

The teaching

Pleasure may be acknowledged within dharma when regulated; craving is the fault, not disciplined practice.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya recreation/training through hunting
• Ahimsa-leaning restraint and moral self-governance
• Public precedent (rajarshi approval) vs personal detachment

Ethical theme

Kṣatriya-dharma/niyama

How it resolves

Qualified endorsement (regulated, not excessive)

For your practice

Cultivates moderation: observe desires, keep them within ethical bounds; supports sattvic discipline.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Reflective, measured, detached

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Royal Conduct
• Self Restraint
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sarayū (river)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is moderation: even where a practice is socially sanctioned for kṣatriyas and royal sages, Rama expresses restraint and does not cling to pleasure.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama reflects aloud that hunting is esteemed as a royal pastime, but he personally does not strongly crave it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (dama)—a capacity to acknowledge pleasure without becoming attached to it.