Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 39

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

अन्वीक्षमाणो रामस्तु विषण्णं भ्रान्तचेतसम् ।

राजानं मातरं चैव ददर्शानुगतौ पथि ॥३९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.39

Transliteration

anvīkṣamāṇo rāmas tu viṣaṇṇaṃ bhrāntacetasam |

rājānaṃ mātaraṃ caiva dadarśānugatau pathi ||39||

Translation

Ram ne peeche mudke dekha. Raja aur unki maa peeche aa rahe the. Dono ka chehra udas tha. Dono ka dimaag chakkar gaya tha. Itna dukh ki samajh mein kuch nahi aa raha tha. Ram ne dekha ki woh log usi raaste peeche aa rahe hain.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• anvīkṣamāṇaḥ: looking back
• anvīkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + īkṣ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rāmaḥ)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• viṣaṇṇam: dejected
• viṣaṇṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rājānam)

• bhrāntacetasam: with a disturbed mind
• bhrāntacetasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘भ्रान्तं चेतः यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rājānam)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म/object of dadarśa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mātaram: the mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म/object of dadarśa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• eva: also/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• anugatau: following (the two)
• anugatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + gam (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण (of rājānam mātaram)

• pathi: on the road
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

When Rama glanced back, he saw his mother and father trailing behind him on the highway, with an agitated and dejected mind.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā (implied: “mātā” of Rāma)

FAQs

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

The verse brings forward the dharmic conflict between personal compassion and duty-bound action: Rāma recognizes his parents’ suffering yet must continue to uphold truth and the accepted order.

What is the narrative situation?

During the departure, Rāma turns back and notices his parents following him on the road, emotionally shaken.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s empathy and awareness—he does not ignore their pain, even while remaining committed to his vow.