Shloka 14

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

शाद्वलेषु यथा शिश्ये वनान्ते वनगोचर।कुथास्तरणतल्पेषु किं स्यात्सुखतरं ततः।।2.30.14।।

Transliteration

śādvaleṣu yathā śiśye vanānte vanagocara |

kuthāstaraṇatalpeṣu kiṁ syāt sukhataram tataḥ ||

Translation

Wahai pengembara rimba, apabila aku dapat berbaring di hamparan rumput di tepi hutan, apakah yang lebih nyaman daripada itu—meskipun dibandingkan dengan ranjang beralas kain yang indah?

Word by Word

• śādvaleṣu: on grassy meadows
• śādvaleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śādvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (as)

• śiśye: I lie down
• śiśye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (शी, धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थतः ‘I will lie down / I lie’ (poetic perfect)

• vanānte: at the forest’s edge
• vanānte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vanasya antaḥ)

• vanagocara: O forest-roamer
• vanagocara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vane gocaraḥ)

• kuthāstaraṇatalpeṣu: on couches spread with carpets
• kuthāstaraṇatalpeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuthā + astaraṇa + talpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (kuthā-astaraṇa-talpa = couch with carpet-spread)

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• syāt: could be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• sukhataraṃ: more comfortable
• sukhataraṃ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhatara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तर्हि-तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• tataḥ: than that
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-अव्यय (than that/from that) तुलनार्थे

Context

I shall regard, O charming Rama, the harmful dust raised by the stormy wind and settled on me as the most excellent sandal powder.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma as valuing simplicity over luxury when aligned with truth: comfort is redefined by righteousness and companionship, not by material softness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues persuading Rama, claiming the forest will feel more delightful than palace comforts if she is allowed to accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Renunciant-mindedness and contentment—she shows freedom from dependence on luxury in service of dharmic choice.