Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.31 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 31

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

स च श्रीमानचिन्त्यात्मा रामो दशरथात्मजः।सूतं सञ्चोदयामास त्वरितं वाह्यतामिति।।।।

Transliteration

sa ca śrīmān acintyātmā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ | sūtaṃ sañcodayāmāsa tvaritaṃ vāhyatām iti ||

Translation

ശ്രീമാനും അചിന്ത്യാത്മാവുമായ ദശരഥനന്ദനൻ രാമൻ സൂതനോട് പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചു: “വേഗത്തിൽ രഥം ഓടിക്ക.”

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rāmaḥ)

• acintyātmā: one of inconceivable nature
• acintyātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-cintya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अचिन्त्यः आत्मा यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• daśarathātmajaḥ: son of Dasharatha
• daśarathātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (daśarathasya ātmajaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sūtam: charioteer
• sūtam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sañcodayāmāsa: exhorted, urged
• sañcodayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + cud (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘प्रेरयामास’

• tvaritam: quickly
• tvaritam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative)

• vāhyatām: let (the chariot) be driven
• vāhyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘वाह्यताम्’ = ‘let it be driven’

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

Context

The son of Dasaratha, glorious Rama of inconceivable courage, exhorted the charioteer to drive the chariot fast.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• sūta (charioteer)
• chariot (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is decisive obedience to rightful duty: Rāma does not linger in emotional delay but moves forward to fulfill the exile command with disciplined resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

At the moment of departure, Rāma instructs the charioteer to proceed quickly, accelerating the transition from palace life to forest exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness and self-command—acting without wavering once dharma’s course is clear.