Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ · चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Setting: Ayodhya (palace, immediate preparation area)Final preparation for forest exile; donning valkala

Devanagari script

तस्यास्तत्क्षिप्रमागम्य रामो धर्मभृतां वरः ।

चीरं बबन्ध सीतायाः कौशेयस्योपरि स्वयम् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.14

Transliteration

tasyās tatkṣipram āgamya rāmo dharmabhṛtāṁ varaḥ |

cīraṁ babandha sītāyāḥ kauśeyasyopari svayam ||14||

Translation

राम जल्दी से वहाँ गए। वो धरम के काम करने वाले में सबसे बड़े थे। उन्होंने सीता के रेशमी कपड़े के ऊपर से खुद वो भाड़े का कपड़ा बाँध दिया।

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Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her (Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्
• Role: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)

• तत्: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चीरम् इति)
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण (object-determiner)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)

• आगम्य: having come/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having come/approached’
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• धर्मभृताम्: of the upholders of righteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; भृत् from √भृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मं बिभ्रतीति/धर्मं धारयन्ति)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (genitive dependent of वरः)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वरः: the best, foremost
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः’
• Role: कर्ता-सम्बन्धी विशेषण/उपपद (predicate nominative to रामः)

• चीरम्: bark garment
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object)

• बबन्ध: fastened, tied on
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया (main verb)

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of Sita)

• कौशेयस्य: of the silk garment
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘silk cloth’
• Role: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of the silk garment)

• उपरि: upon, over
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात/अव्यय; ‘upon/over’
• Role: अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध (locative sense)

• स्वयम्: himself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः कर्तृत्व-प्रदर्शक (emphatic ‘himself’)
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण (emphatic modifier of subject)

Sandhi Notes

• तस्यास्तत्क्षिप्रमागम्य = तस्याः तत् क्षिप्रम् आगम्य
• धर्मभृतां वरः (अनुस्वार-सन्धि)
• कौशेयस्योपरि = कौशेयस्य उपरि

Context

Rama, foremost among protectors of righteousness, came forward quickly and fastened the bark himself over her silk garment.

The teaching

Dharma is not mere austerity; it is compassionate guidance—helping another bear the discipline rightly.

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / dayā (compassion) within tapas

For your practice

Model for seva within hardship: support loved ones in their vows; practice compassion as dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tender, protective, austere

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Compassion
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as protective care within righteousness: Rama helps Sita directly, ensuring her transition to forest-dharma is done with respect and responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing Sita uncertain with the bark-cloth, Rama steps forward and ties it for her over her silk clothing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and maryādā (propriety): Rama’s attentive, dignified assistance to Sita.