Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 36

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya (royal household; ritual preparation space)

Devanagari script

सीतयाप्युपवस्तव्या रजनीयं मया सह ।

एवमृत्विगुपाध्यायै स्सह मामुक्तवान्पिता ॥३६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.36

Transliteration

sītayāpy upavastavyā rajanīyaṃ mayā saha |

evam ṛtvig-upādhyāyaiḥ saha mām uktavān pitā ||36||

Translation

आज रात सीता को भी मेरे साथ व्रत रखना है। पुरोहित और गुरु भी साथ रखेंगे। पिताजी ने यही कहा था मुझे।

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Word by Word

• सीतया: by Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (of upavastavyā)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय; ‘also’
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• उपवस्तव्या: must fast
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘to be fasted/should fast’
• Role: Karya-karta (कार्यकर्ता)

• रजनीयम्: the night
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular (object of implied ‘to spend/observe’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मया: with me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3/सह), एकवचन; instrumental ‘with me’
• Role: Saha (सह)

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-प्रयोग-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)
• Role: Saha (सह)

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय; ‘thus/in this manner’
• Role: Prakara (प्रकार)

• ऋत्विक्-उपाध्यायैः: with priests and preceptors
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् + उपाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/सह), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (ऋत्विजश्च उपाध्यायाश्च)
• Role: Saha (सह)
• Compound: Dvandva

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-प्रयोग-अव्यय
• Role: Saha (सह)

• माम्: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative ‘me’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उक्तवान्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्तवत्/perfect participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘having said/said’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (with pitā)

• पिता: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• सीतयाप्युपवस्तव्या = सीतया + अपि + उपवस्तव्या
• ऋत्विगुपाध्यायैः = ऋत्विक् + उपाध्यायैः
• मामुक्तवान् = माम् + उक्तवान्

Context

Tonight, Sita, the officiating priests and preceptors will take to fasting along with me. This is what father told me.

The teaching

Power is preceded by self-restraint; public office is sanctified through discipline and guidance of sacred authorities.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma / saṃskāra-niyama

For your practice

Upavāsa as a preparatory sādhanā: cultivate restraint, clarity, and reverence before major life transitions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Ritual-pure, disciplined, anticipatory

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Ritual discipline
• Vows (vrata)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Kauśalyā
• Daśaratha
• upādhyāya (preceptors)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined preparation: fasting and observance purify intention and action before assuming public responsibility, honoring truth through ritual integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma tells Kauśalyā that he, Sītā, and the priests and teachers will fast that night as preparation for the consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and reverence for tradition—Rāma accepts austerity as part of righteous leadership, and Sītā is included as a devoted partner in dharma.