Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.49 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 49

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

यदि मे याचमानस्य त्यागमेव करिष्यसि।सरथोऽग्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि त्यक्तमात्र इह त्वया।।2.52.49।।

Transliteration

yadi me yācamānasya tyāgam eva kariṣyasi | sa-ratho ’gniṃ pravekṣyāmi tyakta-mātra iha tvayā ||

Translation

ഞാൻ അപേക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടും നീ എന്നെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുമെന്നു തീരുമാനിച്ചാൽ, നീ ഇവിടെ എന്നെ വിട്ട നിമിഷം തന്നെ ഞാൻ രഥസഹിതം അഗ്നിയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കും.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात) = ‘if’

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th), Singular

• yācamānasya: of (me) requesting
• yācamānasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yāc (धातु)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्); Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; agrees with me (sense: ‘while I am requesting’)

• tyāgam: abandonment
• tyāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• kariṣyasi: you will do
• kariṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd Person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• sa-rathaḥ: (I) with the chariot
• sa-rathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + sa- (सह-अर्थक अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘(I) with the chariot’

• agnim: into the fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म; गत्यर्थक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; goal of motion

• pravekṣyāmi: I will enter
• pravekṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• tyakta-mātraḥ: immediately upon being abandoned
• tyakta-mātraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त, √tyaj) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya = ‘just abandoned/only just left’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies sa-rathaḥ (aham)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deictic adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय) = ‘here’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता; in passive sense with tyakta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental, Singular

Context

If you forsake me in spite of my request I shall immediately enter fire along with my chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• ratha (chariot)
• agni (fire)

FAQs

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

It dramatizes the extremity of loyalty; ethically, it also invites reflection on dharma as steadiness without self-destruction—showing how grief can push devotion into dangerous vows.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra threatens self-immolation if Rāma refuses to let him accompany the exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unwavering attachment and loyalty, though expressed in a despairing, ethically fraught form.