Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ · चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Spoken by RamaSetting: Ayodhya (decision-making during exile arrangements)Places named: forest (vana)Renunciation of royal convoy before forest departure

Devanagari script

त्यक्तभोगस्य मे राजन् वने वन्येन जीवतः ।

किं कार्यमनुयात्रेण त्यक्तसङ्गस्य सर्वतः ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.2

Transliteration

tyaktabhogasya me rājan vane vanyena jīvataḥ |

kiṁ kāryam anuyātreṇa tyaktasaṅgasya sarvataḥ ||2||

Translation

Wahai Raja, bila aku telah meninggalkan segala kenikmatan, dan sepenuhnya melepaskan keterikatan, serta akan hidup di hutan dari apa yang disediakan alam liar, apakah perlunya rombongan pengiring mengikuti aku?

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Word by Word

• tyaktabhogasya: of one who has renounced pleasures
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta-bhoga (त्यक्तभोग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tyakta + bhoga)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• me: of me/my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of me)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• rājan: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• vane: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (वन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• vanyena: by forest food
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanya (वन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘with forest-produce’
• Role: Karana (करण)

• jīvataḥ: of (me) living
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvat (जीवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) from √jīv, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (me) living’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• kim: what
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम् सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक
• Role: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)

• kāryam: use/need
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कार्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘use/need’ अर्थे
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Predicative)

• anuyātreṇa: with followers/retinue
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-yātra (अनुयात्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (anu + yātra) ‘with following/retinue’
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• tyaktasaṅgasya: of one who has abandoned attachments
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta-saṅga (त्यक्तसङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tyakta + saṅga)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sarvataḥ: entirely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (सर्वतस् अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in every way/entirely)
• Role: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial)

Sandhi Notes

• kāryam anuyātreṇa = kāryam + anuyātreṇa
• tyaktabhogasya/tyaktasaṅgasya are tatpurusha compounds

Context

O king! giving up pleasures and attachments altogether I am going to live on whatever is available in the forest. What is the use of followers?

The teaching

True renunciation reduces dependence and avoids burdening others; simplicity is a form of dharma.

Ethical theme

Vairāgya / aparigraha

For your practice

Practice of simplifying life, reducing attachments, and accepting what is sufficient.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Detached, austere, firm

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Renunciation
• Detachment
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Dasharatha
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined renunciation: when one accepts a vow-bound path (forest-life), one should also give up the comforts and social display that contradict it.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, preparing for exile, addresses Dasharatha and argues that a forest-dweller who has renounced worldly life has no need of attendants or royal following.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya (detachment) and steadiness in dharma—Rama’s willingness to live simply and consistently with his chosen/accepted duty.