Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.50: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 50

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

यमिच्छेत्पुनरायान्तं नैनं दूरमनुव्रजेत्।इत्यमात्या महाराजमूचुर्दशरथं वचः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.50

Transliteration

yam icchet punar āyāntaṁ nainaṁ dūram anuvrajet |

ity amātyā mahārājam ūcur daśarathaṁ vacaḥ ||

Translation

വീണ്ടും മടങ്ങിവരണമെന്നു ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവരെ ദൂരത്തോളം അനുഗമിക്കരുത്—ഇങ്ങനെ മന്ത്രിമാർ മഹാരാജ ദശരഥനോട് വചനം പറഞ്ഞു.

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Word by Word

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• icchet: should desire
• icchet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• punar: again
• punar: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• āyāntam: returning/coming back
• āyāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + yā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying 'yam'

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dūram: far / to a long distance
• dūram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (द्वितीया-अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग), distance-adverb

• anuvrajet: should follow
• anuvrajet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + vraj (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vakyopanyasa (वाक्योपन्यास)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• amātyāḥ: ministers
• amātyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahārājam: the great king
• mahārājam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: mahā + rāja (great king)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Perfect/लिट्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daśaratham: Daśaratha
• daśaratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to 'mahārājam'

• vacaḥ: words / statement
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

We should not follow over a long distance those we wish to return, said the ministers to king Dasaratha.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• ministers (amātyāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is measured restraint: when a return is desired, excessive pursuit can become counterproductive; wise counsel favors self-control over impulsive attachment.

What is the narrative situation?

As separation unfolds, the ministers advise Daśaratha not to follow the departing party too far, hoping this will support their eventual return.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and governance-wisdom (nīti): the ministers model calm, practical judgment in a moment of intense grief.