Valmiki Ramayana 1.31.16: Bala Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 16
सिद्धाश्रमात् शोणातटं प्रस्थानम् · Departure from Siddhāśrama and the Invitation to Janaka’s Yajña
Bow of Mithilā
Setting: SiddhāśramaPlaces named: Uttarā diś (north)Setting out toward the northern direction (uttarā diś)
प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा सिद्धाश्रममनुत्तमम् ।
उत्तरां दिशमुद्दिश्य प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे ॥१६॥
pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā siddhāśramam anuttamam |
uttarāṃ diśam uddiśya prasthātum upacakrame ||16||
फिर उस सिद्धाश्रम का परिक्रमा किया। वो आश्रम बहुत बड़ा था। फिर सब मिलकर उत्तर की तरफ चल पड़े।
Sandhi Notes
- दिशमुद्दिश्य = दिशम् उद्दिश्य
- प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे = प्रस्थातुम् उपचक्रमे
Thereafter, circumambulating the supreme Siddhasrama with reverence, they (Viswamitra and the princes) commenced their journey in the northern direction.
The teaching
Departures too are dharmic acts: honor the place that sheltered your tapas, then proceed with clear direction and resolve.
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra-dharma (ritual etiquette)
Devotion and practice
Pradakṣiṇā as a simple daily practice to cultivate humility and gratitude toward sacred spaces/teachers.
- Deity praised
- Siddhāśrama-kṣetra (sacred abode of tapas; implicit)
- Form of praise
- Vandana (salutation)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Ritual-closure, focused, auspicious
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Reverence
- Pilgrimage
- Satya
Circumambulation signifies placing the sacred at the ‘center’ of one’s inner compass—an outer enactment of inner orientation toward the Real.
The act of honoring a seat of tapas recalls the Upaniṣadic valuation of tapas and brahmacarya as supports for knowledge.
- Rama and Vishvamitra
- Disciple follows guru’s ritual lead (obedient-reverential)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.23 (ritual propriety around hermitages and sages; thematic parallel)
Temple/āśrama pradakṣiṇā as pan-Indic auspicious rite (smṛti/ācāra)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: departures marked by ritual gestures and blessings (structural parallel)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Measured, clockwise-cadence feel; low nyāsa on ‘anuttamam’ and ‘upacakrame’
FAQs
Reverence for sacred spaces: circumambulation before departure reflects dharma through humility, gratitude, and truthfulness toward what is revered.
Before leaving Siddhāśrama, the party performs pradakṣiṇā and then proceeds northward toward the next stage of the journey.
Respectful discipline: action is framed by ritual propriety—beginning and ending endeavors with reverence.
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