Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 41

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

पदातिनौ च यानार्हावदुःखार्हौ सुखोचितौ।दृष्ट्वा सञ्चोदयामास शीघ्रं याहीति सारथिम्।।।।

Transliteration

padātinau ca yānārhāv aduḥkhārhau sukhocitau |

dṛṣṭvā sañcodayāmāsa śīghraṃ yāhīti sārathim ||

Translation

本来は車に乗るにふさわしいのに徒歩で歩き、安楽に慣れていて悲しみに値しない両親を見て、ラーマは御者に促した。「急いで進め。」

Word by Word

• पदातिनौ: the two on foot
• पदातिनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (two) foot-soldiers/going on foot

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यानार्हौ: worthy of a chariot/ride
• यानार्हौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यान + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यानम् अर्हति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• अदुःखार्हौ: not fit to suffer sorrow
• अदुःखार्हौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + दुःख + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष-समास (दुःखम् अर्हति इति; न), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• सुखोचितौ: accustomed to comfort
• सुखोचितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखे उचितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• सञ्चोदयामास: urged/instigated
• सञ्चोदयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage (urged)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• याहि: go
• याहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• सारथिम्: the charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संबोधित/प्रेरित व्यक्ति as object

Context

Seeing his parents, who were worthy of riding a chariot now going on foot, who were accustomed to comforts and did not deserve any suffering, Rama urged his charioteer to drive fast.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is compassionate restraint: Rāma recognizes that prolonging the painful sight for his parents increases suffering, so he chooses swift departure to minimize harm while still upholding his vow of exile.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma departs Ayodhyā for the forest, he sees his parents following in distress; he instructs the charioteer to move quickly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) blended with maryādā (self-governed propriety): Rāma’s sensitivity to others’ pain even while he himself suffers.