Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 1

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Setting: Ayodhy0 palace (antahpura)Places named: Ayodhy0 (implied)Departure from palace precincts (pre-exile movement)

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे निष्क्रामति कृताञ्जलौ ।

आर्तशब्दो महान् जज्ञे स्त्रीणामन्तःपुरे तदा ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.1

Transliteration

tasmiṃs tu puruṣa-vyāghre niṣkrāmati kṛtāñjalau |

ārta-śabdo mahān jajñe strīṇām antaḥpure tadā ||1||

Translation

അന്ന് പുരുഷവ്യാഘ്രനായ രാമൻ കൃതാഞ്ജലിയോടെ പുറപ്പെടുമ്പോൾ, അന്തഃപുരത്തിലെ സ്ത്രീകളിൽ മഹത്തായ ആർ‍ത്തനാദം ഉയർന്നു.

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Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: when/in him (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• तु: but/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• पुरुषव्याघ्रे: in the tiger among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: "पुरुषाणां व्याघ्रः"
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• निष्क्रामति: (when he) goes out
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis-kram (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• कृताञ्जलौ: with folded hands
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: "कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य" (with folded palms)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• आर्तशब्दः: a cry of distress
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārta + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: "आर्तः शब्दः" (distress-cry)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• महान्: great, loud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण of आर्तशब्दः
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• जज्ञे: arose
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• अन्तःपुरे: in the inner palace
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: "अन्तः (गृहे) पुरम्" inner apartments
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Kala (काल)

Sandhi Notes

• तस्मिंस्तु = तस्मिन् + तु
• स्त्रीणामन्तःपुरे = स्त्रीणाम् + अन्तःपुरे

Context

When the tiger among men (Rama) was coming out with folded palms, there arose a huge cry of distress among the ladies of the harem:

The teaching

True dharma may demand painful separation; composure does not negate compassion.

Duties in tension

• R0maṣ obedience to father/royal command
• Family affection and the womenṣ dependence/attachment
• Public duty vs private grief

Ethical theme

Putra-dharma / r0jadharma

How it resolves

Duty-acceptance (R0ma proceeds despite lament)

For your practice

Practice of steadiness (dhṛti) amid collective emotion; cultivate compassionate detachment and reverent conduct (añjali) in transitions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Wailing, tender, shattering

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Filial piety
• Palace life
• Emotion
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• antaḥpura (inner palace)
• women of the palace

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through respectful conduct (añjali) even amid tension; the palace women’s distress highlights how righteous decisions can still cause human grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma moves through the palace precincts with reverence; the women within the inner apartments react with loud distress at the unfolding events around him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s maryādā (decorum and reverence), expressed by departing with folded hands, maintaining dignity in a charged moment.