Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 19

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

सरीसृपाश्च बहवो बहुरूपाश्च भामिनि।चरन्ति पृथिवीं दर्पात्ततो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.19।।

Transliteration

sarīsṛpāś ca bahavo bahu-rūpāś ca bhāmini |

caranti pṛthivīṃ darpāt tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam ||2.28.19||

Translation

ഹേ സുന്ദരി, പലവിധത്തിലുള്ള അനേകം സർപ്പാദി സരീസൃപങ്ങൾ ഭൂമിയിൽ ധാർഷ്ട്യത്തോടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് വനവാസം കൂടുതൽ ഭയാനകവും ദുഃഖകരവും ആണ്.

Word by Word

• sarīsṛpāḥ: reptiles
• sarīsṛpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarīsṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and/also)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana; agrees with sarīsṛpāḥ

• bahurūpāḥ: of many forms
• bahurūpāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (बहु) + rūpa (रूप)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (many-formed); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with sarīsṛpāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and/also)

• bhāmini: O beautiful lady
• bhāmini: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• caranti: move about
• caranti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana

• pṛthivīm: the ground/earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• darpāt: from fierceness/arrogance
• darpāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/5th), Ekavacana; ablative of cause

• tataḥ: therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (therefore)

• duḥkhataraṃ: more painful
• duḥkhataraṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तरप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Comparative, Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate for vanam

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

Righteous Rama consoled Sita whose eyes were blurred with tears, and in order to dissuade her (from going to the forest) said again:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent protection of dependents: Rāma emphasizes real dangers to prevent avoidable harm to Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues detailing the forest’s threats, focusing on creatures that make travel and dwelling unsafe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protectiveness and foresight—anticipating risks rather than reacting after harm occurs.