Shloka 23

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महात्मा सीतां प्रियां मैथिलराजपुत्रीम्।रामो धनुष्मान्सह लक्ष्मणेन जगाम रम्याणि तपोवनानि।।।।

Transliteration

ity evam uktvā vacanaṁ mahātmā sītāṁ priyāṁ maithilarājaputrīm |

rāmo dhanuṣmān saha lakṣmaṇena jagāma ramyāṇi tapovanāni ||

Translation

かく語り終えると、偉大なる魂のラーマは、ミティラー王の娘にして愛しきシーターに向けて言葉を結び、弓を手にラクシュマナとともに、麗しき修行の森へと進んだ。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotation/closure particle

• evam: in this way
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; 'having said'

• vacanam: statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of uktvā

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of Rāma

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object (towards whom he spoke / with whom context)

• priyām: beloved
• priyām: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying sītām

• maithilarājaputrīm: daughter of the king of Mithila
• maithilarājaputrīm: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithila-rāja-putrī (प्रातिपदिक; components: मैथिल + राज + पुत्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to sītām

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dhanuṣmān: wielding a bow
• dhanuṣmān: Karta (कर्ता; subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanuṣ-mant (प्रातिपदिक; components: धनुस् + मन्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'bow-possessing' qualifying rāmaḥ

• saha: with
• saha: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; accompaniment marker

• lakṣmaṇena: with Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇena: Sahartha (सहार्थ; companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ramyāṇi: delightful
• ramyāṇi: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifying tapovanāni

• tapovanāni: groves of penance
• tapovanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas-vana (प्रातिपदिक; components: तपस् + वन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; object of jagāma

Context

O Sita, the sages who perform rigorous penance in Dandaka forest came to me personally, seeking shelter although they can be their own protection.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana
• Mithila
• tapovana (ascetic groves)
• bow (dhanus)

FAQs

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

Dharma moves into action: righteous intent culminates in purposeful travel to protect and support ascetic communities.

What is the narrative situation?

After concluding the discussion with Sita, Rama proceeds with Lakshmana through the hermitage-forests, bow ready for protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness for service—Rama’s preparedness to safeguard the tapovana environment and its residents.