Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ · चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Spoken by RamaSetting: Ayodhyā (departure preparations)Places named: forest (vana)Setting out for forest exile (14-year term)

Devanagari script

खनित्रपिटके चोभे समानयत गच्छतः ।

चतुर्दश वने वासं वर्षाणि वसतो मम ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.5

Transliteration

khanitra-piṭake cobhe samānayata gacchataḥ |

caturdaśa vane vāsaṁ varṣāṇi vasato mama ||5||

Translation

मैं चौदह साल वन में रहने जा रहा हूँ। मेरे लिए दो चीज़ें भी ले आओ। एक खोदने वाला औज़ार, एक टोकरी।

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Word by Word

• खनित्रपिटके: a spade and a basket
• Type: Noun
• Root: khanitra + piṭaka (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

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

• उभे: both
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• समानयत: bring together, fetch
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā√nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• गच्छतः: of (him) who is going
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); 'of (him) going'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; द्विगु-समास (catur + daśa) used as numeral adjective
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Dvigu

• वने: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• वासम्: dwelling, residence
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वर्षाणि: years
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)

• वसतः: of (him) residing
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); 'of (him) residing'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• चोभे = च + उभे
• खनित्रपिटके treated as द्वन्द्व (खनित्र + पिटक) dual accusative
• गच्छतः/वसतः are genitive singular of present participles (śatṛ)

Context

I am going to the forest to live there for fourteen years. Bring me two things: a basket and a crowbar.

The teaching

Dharma is sustained by readiness for the practical disciplines that one+cs vow entails.

Ethical theme

Niyama/discipline

For your practice

Supports vrata-sādhana: prepare concrete means for a vowed path; simplicity as devotion-in-action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Practical, austere, steady

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Vairāgya (detachment)
• Tapas (austere living)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• fourteen years

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as practical discipline: accepting hardship with readiness and arranging only what is necessary for a life of simplicity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, preparing for exile, asks for minimal tools needed for forest subsistence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-reliance and austerity—contentment with minimal possessions.