Valmiki Ramayana 2.54.24-25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 54, Shlokas 24-25
भरद्वाजाश्रमप्राप्तिः · Arrival at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage and Counsel toward Citrakūṭa
Spoken by Rama to BharadvajaSetting: Near Bharadvaja-ashrama at a visible, accessible spot close to settlements by the river confluenceDecision point: rejecting an easily accessible campsite; seeking deeper seclusion for exile
भगवन्नित आसन्नः पौरजानपदो जनः ।
सुदर्शमिह मां प्रेक्ष्य मन्येऽहमिममाश्रमम् ॥२४॥
आगमिष्यति वैदेहीं मां चापि प्रेक्षको जनः ।
अनेन कारणेनाहमिह वासं न रोचये ॥२५॥
bhagavan ita āsannaḥ paurajānapado janaḥ |
sudarśam iha māṃ prekṣya manye ’ham imam āśramam ||24||
āgamiṣyati vaidehīṃ māṃ cāpi prekṣako janaḥ |
anena kāraṇenāham iha vāsaṃ na rocaye ||25||
गुरुजी, शहर और गाँव के लोग पास में रहते हैं। वो मुझे यहाँ आराम से देख सकते हैं। लोग इस आश्रम में आते रहेंगे सीता और मुझे देखने। इसलिए मैं यहाँ रहना नहीं चाहता।
Sandhi Notes
- भगवन्नित = भगवन् + इतः
- मन्येऽहम् = मन्ये + अहम्
- इममाश्रमम् = इमम् + आश्रमम्
O venerable sage, I feel the people living in nearby villages and towns, perceiving that we can be easily seen here, will frequent this ashram. This is the reason I don't wish to stay here.
The teaching
Renunciation is not merely location but intention: avoid situations that invite distraction, publicity, or risk—especially when responsible for others’ welfare.
Duties in tension
- Hospitality/accepting a sage’s offered lodging
- Protecting Sita’s dignity and safety (strī-rakṣā, maryādā)
- Maintaining the spirit of exile as renunciation (avoid public attention)
- Ethical theme
- Gṛhastha-protective duty within exile / maryādā-dharma
- How it resolves
- Prioritization (maryādā and safety over convenience)
For your practice
Practice of ekānta (seclusion) and guarding the senses from ‘crowd-energy’; also a model of protective compassion in household dharma.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Guarded, modest, renunciant
Themes
- Dharma
- Maryada
- Renunciation
- Ethics
- Southern Recension variant
Turning away from ‘dṛśyatā’ (being seen) mirrors turning away from nāma-rūpa’s social projections toward inner steadiness.
Katha’s theme of choosing śreyas over preyas—preferring austere seclusion over the pleasant pull of public attention (conceptual echo).
- Rama and Bharadvaja
- Disciple-like deference to sage; requesting discretion (respectful)
- Rama and Sita
- Husband protecting wife’s privacy and comfort (protective)
Mahābhārata: forest-dwelling ideals emphasizing seclusion and avoidance of crowds (Vana Parva); Rāmacaritamānasa: emphasis on maryādā and modest living in exile (Ayodhyākāṇḍa)
Āśrama-dharma literature on viveka and ekānta-vāsa
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Rama’s consistent concern for Sita’s safety and propriety during exile preparations and travel
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Mandra (low register)
FAQs
The dharmic principle is avoidance of unnecessary social disturbance and protection of dignity—choosing seclusion to uphold the aims of exile.
This verse reiterates Rāma’s reason for not staying near Bharadvāja’s settlement-adjacent region: it would attract crowds.
Rāma’s discretion (viveka) and self-restraint, aligning personal conduct with the vows and expectations of forest life.
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