Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 4

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तं वन्दमानं रुदती माता सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।हितकामा महाबाहुं मूध्नर्युपाघ्राय लक्ष्मणम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ vandamānaṃ rudatī mātā saumitrim abravīt | hitakāmā mahābāhuṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya lakṣmaṇam ||

Translation

ಸೌಮಿತ್ರಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನು ವಂದಿಸಿ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಅವನ ತಾಯಿ ಸುಮಿತ್ರೆ ಅಳುತ್ತಲೇ ಹಿತಕಾಮಿನಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಹಾಬಾಹು ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನ ಶಿರಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಘ್ರಾಣಿಸಿ (ಚುಂಬಿಸಿ) ಮಾತಾಡಿದಳು.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vandamānam: (him) who was saluting
• vandamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying तम्

• rudatī: weeping
• rudatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying माता

• mātā: mother
• mātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saumitram: Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; patronymic ‘son of Sumitrā’

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• hita-kāmā: wishing well
• hita-kāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘desiring his welfare’

• mahā-bāhum: mighty-armed
• mahā-bāhum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; epithet qualifying lakṣmaṇam

• mūrdhni: on the head/forehead
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• upāghrāya: having smelled/kissed
• upāghrāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): ‘having smelled/kissed (as a gesture)’

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

While the mighty-armed Lakshmana paid her homage, Sumitra wailed, kissed him on his forehead, wished him well and said:

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as guidance and support: even in grief, a mother prioritizes the righteous course for her son—service to the rightful path and protection of virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa pays homage to his mother before leaving; Sumitrā, crying, blesses him affectionately and begins to advise him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumitrā’s selfless wisdom—she subordinates personal sorrow to her son’s dharmic duty and well-being.