Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 6

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

व्यसनी वा समृद्धो वा गतिरेष तवानघ।एष लोके सतां धर्मो यज्ज्येष्ठवशगो भवेत्।।।।

Transliteration

vyasanī vā samṛddho vā gatir eṣa tavānagha |

eṣa loke satāṁ dharmo yaj jyeṣṭhavaśago bhavet ||

Translation

苦難のときも栄えのときも、彼こそ汝の拠り所、咎なき者よ。これがこの世の善き人々のダルマである――長兄に従い仕えること。

Word by Word

• vyasanī: in adversity
• vyasanī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyasanin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘in adversity/afflicted’ (as a state)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• samṛddhaḥ: prosperous
• samṛddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘prosperous’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle

• gatiḥ: refuge/course
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun qualifying gatiḥ

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• anagha: O sinless one
• anagha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• satām: of the virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• dharmaḥ: duty/law
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• yat: that (namely)
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage of यत् introducing a content clause (यत् = ‘that’), correlating with एषः

• jyeṣṭha-vaśa-gaḥ: obedient to the elder brother
• jyeṣṭha-vaśa-gaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (कृदन्त; गम् धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘gone under the control of the elder’

• bhavet: should be / may become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Context

Rama is your refuge in times of adversity or prosperity, O sinless one! To beobedient to the eldest (brother) is the duty of virtuous men in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is defined as loyal obedience to the elder brother and taking refuge in righteousness (Rāma) in both suffering and success.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations for departure are underway, Sumitrā instructs Lakṣmaṇa on how to orient his life around Rāma’s leadership.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial-brotherly devotion and humility: Lakṣmaṇa is urged to serve and follow the rightful elder.