Valmiki Ramayana 2.30.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 1

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः · Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Setting: Ayodhyā palace quarters (private spousal dialogue implied)Places named: forest (vana)Pre-departure for forest exile

Devanagari script

सान्त्व्यमाना तु रामेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा ।

वनवासनिमित्ताय भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.30.1

Transliteration

sāntvyamānā tu rāmeṇa maithilī janakātmajā |

vanavāsanimittāya bhartāram idam abravīt ||1||

Translation

വനവാസത്തിന്റെ നിമിത്തം രാമൻ ആശ്വസിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നാലും, ജനകനന്ദിനിയായ മൈഥിലി ഭർത്താവിനോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• सान्त्व्यमाना: being consoled
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + त्वि/त्वय् (धातु; सान्त्वयति)
• Form: यक्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्मणि वर्तमान-कृदन्त (passive present participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• रामेण: by Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जनकस्य आत्मजा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वनवासनिमित्ताय: for the purpose of forest-dwelling
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक) + निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वनवासस्य निमित्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• भर्तारम्: (to) her husband
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्य-विशेषण (these words)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• भर्तारमिदम् = भर्तारम् + इदम्
• निमित्ताय = निमित्त + आय (चतुर्थी)

Context

In response to Rama's consolation with regard to her stay in the forest, the daughter of Janaka, Maithili (Sita) said:

The teaching

In adversity, dharma may be fulfilled together: companionship can be an expression of duty, not mere attachment.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s protective duty as husband vs Sītā’s chosen duty to share his dharma
• Household safety/comfort vs ascetic forest-dharma

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / strī-dharma (as portrayed in epic ethos)

How it resolves

Assertion of shared dharma (saha-dharma-cāriṇī) leading toward joint exile

For your practice

Invites contemplation on steadfastness, loyalty, and transforming love into service; useful for vrata/niyama reflection.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Ṛṅgāra

Mood

Poignant, steadfast, intimate

Themes

• Dharma
• Stridharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Janaka
• Vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfast companionship and duty in marriage: the verse frames Sītā’s forthcoming speech as grounded in commitment to her husband’s path.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama attempts to console Sītā about the hardships of exile; the narration introduces Sītā’s response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s resolve and loyalty, presented as an ethically charged choice rather than mere emotion.