Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 43

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रत्यगारमिवायान्ती वत्सला वत्सकारणात्।बद्धवत्सा यथा धेनू राममाताभ्यधावत।।।।

Transliteration

pratyagāram ivāyāntī vatsalā vatsakāraṇāt |

baddhavatsā yathā dhenū rāmamātābhyadhāvata ||

Translation

ラーマの母は彼を追って駆けた。まるで子牛が繋がれているため、子を思って牛舎へ急ぐ慈しみ深い雌牛のように。

Word by Word

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like)

• अगारम्: the shed/house
• अगारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• आयान्ती: coming
• आयान्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वत्सला: affectionate
• वत्सला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वत्सकारणात्: because of the calf
• वत्सकारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वत्सस्य कारणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• बद्धवत्सा: whose calf is tied
• बद्धवत्सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (बद्धः वत्सः यस्याः सा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• धेनूः: a cow
• धेनूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान

• राममाता: Rama's mother
• राममाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य माता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभ्यधावत: ran after/ran towards
• अभ्यधावत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Rama's mother ran after the chariot, like an affectionate cow running towards the shed to join its fastened calf.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights familial dharma and natural affection: a mother’s protective love is portrayed as instinctive and morally dignified, not a weakness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā, unable to bear separation, runs after Rāma’s chariot as he leaves for exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vātsalya (maternal affection) and ananya-prema (single-minded love).