Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 8

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः

Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Devanagari script

क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ता श्शून्ये महामृगाः।दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्।।2.28.8।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.8

Transliteration

krīḍamānāś ca visrabdhā mattā śūnye mahāmṛgāḥ |

dṛṣṭvā samabhivartante sīte duḥkham ato vanam || 2.28.8 ||

Translation

निर्जन वनात निर्भय व उन्मत्त महावन्य पशू मोकळेपणाने क्रीडा करीत फिरतात; मनुष्य दिसताच धावून येऊन हल्ला करतात; हे सीते, म्हणून वनवास दुःख आहे.

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Word by Word

• क्रीडमानाः: sporting/playing
• क्रीडमानाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

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

• विस्रब्धाः: fearless/unwary
• विस्रब्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्रब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

• मत्ताः: maddened/wild
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महामृगाः’ विशेषणम्

• शून्ये: in a deserted place
• शून्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc./अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.)

• महामृगाः: great beasts
• महामृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); ‘महा’ + ‘मृग’ (great animals)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), “having seen”

• समभिवर्तन्ते: rush upon/attack
• समभिवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.), आत्मनेपद; “they rush upon/attack”

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Voc./सम्बोधन), एकवचन (sg.)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); predicate

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

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

Context

Do as I tell you, O delicate Sita. There are, indeed, many hardships in the forest. I shall tell you all about them. Listen to me.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not merely intention but safeguarding life: a righteous path requires acknowledging threats that can obstruct duty and wellbeing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues enumerating dangers, stressing that the forest is not a controlled human space but a realm of unpredictable animal aggression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective responsibility and realism in counsel.