Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 9

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

सग्राहा स्सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यस्सु दुस्तराः। मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरं वनम्।।2.28.9।।

Transliteration

sagrāhāḥ saritaś caiva paṅkavatyaś ca su-dustarāḥ | mattair api gajair nityam ato duḥkhataraṃ vanam || 2.28.9 ||

Translation

മുതലകളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞതും ചെളിയാൽ കട്ടിയുമായ നദികൾ അത്യന്തം ദുഷ്കരമായി കടക്കേണ്ടവയാണ്; മദിച്ച ആനകൾക്കും പോലും അവ കടക്കാൻ പ്രയാസം. അതുകൊണ്ട് വനവാസം എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും കൂടുതൽ അപകടവും കഷ്ടവും നിറഞ്ഞതാണ്.

Word by Word

• सग्राहाः: with crocodiles
• सग्राहाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-ग्राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘सरितः’ विशेषणम्; स- (with) + ग्राह (crocodile/alligator)

• सरितः: rivers
• सरितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis

• पङ्कवत्यः: muddy
• पङ्कवत्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पङ्कवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘सरितः’ विशेषणम्

• सु: very
• सु: Visheshana (विशेषणार्थ-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गवत्/उपपद-निपात (intensifier)

• दुस्तराः: hard to cross
• दुस्तराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘सरितः’ विशेषणम्; दु: + तर (hard to cross)

• मत्तैः: by maddened
• मत्तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘गजैः’ विशेषणम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Samuccaya/Avyaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even/also

• गजैः: by elephants
• गजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr./करण), बहुवचन (pl.)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative): always

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; therefore

• दुःखतरम्: more painful
• दुःखतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); तर्हि-तुलनात्मक (comparative) -तर; ‘वनम्’ विशेषणम्

• वनम्: forest (life)
• वनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

The rivers, infested with crocodiles and filled with mud are difficult to cross even for elephants in rut. Hence forest life is always extremely dangerous.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• saritaḥ (rivers)
• grāha (crocodile)
• gaja (elephant)
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as protective responsibility and practical wisdom: Rāma stresses real dangers so that a loved one is not drawn into suffering through idealism alone.

What is the narrative situation?

On the eve of exile, Rāma tries to dissuade Sītā from accompanying him by describing the perils of forest travel, especially dangerous river-crossings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s foresight and guardianship—his concern to shield Sītā by honestly presenting the hardship of vanavāsa (forest-dwelling).