Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 8

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

Spoken by Sita to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā (conversation)Places named: pitṛgṛha (father’s house—Mithilā implied), vana (forest)Prelude to forest-dwelling; prophecy recalled

Devanagari script

अथ चापि महाप्राज्ञ ब्राह्मणानां मया श्रुतम् ।

पुरा पितृगृहे सत्यं वस्तव्यं किल मे वने ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.29.8

Transliteration

atha cāpi mahāprājña brāhmaṇānāṃ mayā śrutam |

purā pitṛgṛhe satyaṃ vastavyaṃ kila me vane ||8||

Translation

Selain itu, wahai yang maha bijaksana, dahulu di rumah ayahku aku pernah mendengar daripada para brāhmaṇa suatu ramalan yang benar: bahawa aku pasti harus tinggal di hutan.

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Word by Word

• lakṣaṇibhyaḥ: from omen-readers/physiognomists
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), बहुवचन; 'from those skilled in marks/omens'
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान)

• dvijātibhyaḥ: from the twice-born (brahmins)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'twice-born' (brahmins etc.)
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Compound: Dvigu

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having heard'
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vacanam: words/saying
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• purā: formerly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• vanavāsakṛtotsāhā: (I) whose zeal is aroused for forest-dwelling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana-vāsa + kṛta + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: vanavāsa-kṛta-utsāhā = 'having enthusiasm caused by forest-dwelling' (qualifies aham, feminine as speaker Sītā)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• nityam: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverb: 'always')
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• mahābala: O mighty one
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'great + strength'
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• śrutvā'haṃ = śrutvā aham
• vanavāsakṛtotsāhā = vanavāsa-kṛta-utsāhā
• nityam eva (nityameva)

Context

O highly sagacious Rama! I had also heard in my father's house long ago, from brahmins prophesing that some day I shall have certainly to dwell in the forest.

The teaching

What is heard as true counsel and what is destined can be embraced as a path of dharma rather than resisted as misfortune.

Ethical theme

Daiva-puruṣakāra-samanvaya (reconciling destiny and effort)

For your practice

Seeing life-events as prārabdha and converting them into sādhana; honoring satya-vākya (true speech) of the wise.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Fateful, reflective, assured

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Fate
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• brāhmaṇas
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Satya (truth) is treated as binding: Sītā aligns her choice with what she regards as a true, foreknown destiny, accepting hardship without resentment as part of righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

To strengthen her resolve, Sītā cites an earlier prophecy heard at her parental home that foretold her dwelling in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Acceptance and composure—Sītā embraces foretold adversity as something to be met with steadiness.