Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 4

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

अद्यायोध्या तु नगरी राजधानी पितुर्मम।सस्त्रीपुंसा गतानस्माञ्शोचिष्यति न संशयः।।2.46.4।।

Transliteration

adyāyodhyā tu nagarī rājadhānī pitur mama | sastrīpuṃsā gatān asmāñ śociṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||2.46.4||

Translation

ಇಂದು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆ—ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆಯ ರಾಜಧಾನಿ—ನಾವು ಹೊರಟುಹೋದ ಕಾರಣ, ಸ್ತ್ರೀಪುರುಷರೆಲ್ಲರೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮಿಗಾಗಿ ಶೋಕಿಸುವುದು.

Word by Word

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb

• ayodhyā: Ayodhyā
• ayodhyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• nagarī: city
• nagarī: Samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); apposition to ayodhyā

• rājadhānī: capital
• rājadhānī: Samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājadhānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); apposition

• pituḥ: of (my) father
• pituḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sa-strī-puṃsā: with women and men
• sa-strī-puṃsā: Sahacāra (सहचार/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सहित) (उपसर्गवत्) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine) collective, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana (Singular); dvandva: striyaḥ ca pumāṃsaḥ ca; with 'sa-' = 'together with'; meaning 'with women and men'

• gatān: gone (away)
• gatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of asmān
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); qualifies asmān

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म/Object) of śociṣyati
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• śociṣyati: will mourn/grieve
• śociṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śuc (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (Periphrastic future), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• na: no/not
• na: Pratiṣedha (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Pratijñā/niścaya-vācaka (assertive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); used in idiom 'na saṃśayaḥ'

Context

With the intention of confusing the citizens, Rama said to the charioteer, O Sumantra, having seated in the chariot proceed speedly for a while in northerly direction and again turn back the chariot. Accomplish this feat in such a manner that the citizens will not know (where we have gone).

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya
• Dasharatha (as 'my father')

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown as accepting personal hardship for a righteous commitment, while remaining sensitive to the suffering one’s duty may cause to society.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is leaving Ayodhyā for forest exile; he anticipates the city’s grief at the departure of Rama, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and responsibility—Rama recognizes the emotional cost of his dharmic decision upon the citizens.