Valmiki Ramayana 2.30.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 23

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

सा विद्धा बहुभिर्वाक्यैर्दिग्धैरिव गजाङ्गना।चिरसन्नियतं बाष्पं मुमोचाग्निमिवारणिः।।2.30.23।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.30.23

Transliteration

sā viddhā bahubhir vākyair digdhair iva gajāṅganā | cira-sanniyataṃ bāṣpaṃ mumoca agnim ivāraṇiḥ || 2.30.23 ||

Translation

Ditembusi oleh banyak kata-kata itu, bagaikan gajah betina terkena anak panah beracun, dia melepaskan air mata yang lama ditahan—seperti kayu penggesek api yang akhirnya mengeluarkan nyala.

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Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viddhā: pierced/wounded
• viddhā: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyadh (धातु) > viddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bahubhiḥ: by many
• bahubhiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• vākyaiḥ: with words
• vākyaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• digdhaiḥ: smeared/poisoned
• digdhaiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: digdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP of √dih 'to smear'), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vākyaiḥ)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (simile marker)

• gaja-aṅganā: a female elephant
• gaja-aṅganā: Karta (कर्ता; apposition/simile base)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमास (गजस्य अङ्गना); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cira-sanniyatam: long-suppressed
• cira-sanniyatam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक) + sanniyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दीर्घकालं सन्नियतं); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying bāṣpam)

• bāṣpam: tears
• bāṣpam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• mumoca: released/let flow
• mumoca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• araṇiḥ: arani (fire-stick)
• araṇiḥ: Upameya (उपमेय/thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Context

Pierced by so many words (of objection from Rama), Sita felt like a cow-elephant penetrated by poison-smeared arrrows. And shed her long-suppressed tears like arani (a fire-kindling stick) kindling fire.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as sensitivity in speech and action: harsh words can wound deeply; the epic warns that righteousness must include compassionate communication.

What is the narrative situation?

After being met with repeated objections, Sītā’s composure breaks and her suppressed tears finally flow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance up to a limit—she restrains herself long, then naturally releases grief when overwhelmed.