Valmiki Ramayana 2.30.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 40

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

Spoken by Rama to SitaSetting: AyodhyaPlaces named: forestPreparation for forest exile

Devanagari script

सा हि सृष्टाऽनवद्याङ्गि वनाय मदिरेक्षणे ।

अनुगच्छस्व मां भीरु सहधर्मचरी भव ॥४०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.30.40

Transliteration

sā hi sṛṣṭā'navadyāṅgi vanāya madirekṣaṇe |

anugacchasva māṃ bhīru sahadharmacarī bhava ||40||

Translation

Wahai yang bermata memukau dan beranggota sempurna, engkau memang diciptakan untuk kehidupan di hutan. Wahai puteri yang lemah lembut, ikutlah aku dan jadilah pasanganku dalam memenuhi dharma.

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Word by Word

• sā: you (she)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• hi: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/हेतु-प्राय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• sṛṣṭā: created
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sṛj (सृज्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'created'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• anavadya-aṅgi: O faultless-limbed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: anavadya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose limbs are faultless'
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• vanāya: for the forest (life)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• madira-īkṣaṇe: O one with enchanting eyes
• Type: Noun
• Root: madira (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose eyes are intoxicating'
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• anugacchasva: follow
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gam (गम्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bhīru: O timid/gentle one
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• saha-dharma-cārī: companion in dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + cārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: 'one who acts together in dharma'
• Role: Karma (कर्म; predicate complement)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• bhava: become
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• sṛṣṭā'navadyāṅgi→sṛṣṭā anavadya-aṅgi

Context

O one with fascinating eyes and exquisite beauty you were born to live in the forest. O gentle lady, assist me in carrying out my duties.

The teaching

True partnership in dharma means sharing both joys and hardships; Sita's resolve to follow Rama exemplifies the ideal of saha-dharma-chari

Duties in tension

• Rama's duty to protect Sita from forest hardships
• Sita's duty as pativrata to follow her husband
• Rama's duty to honor his father's word

Ethical theme

Pativrata-dharma

How it resolves

Acceptance

For your practice

Exemplifies the ideal of spousal devotion and partnership in spiritual life

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Tender, determined, romantic

Themes

• Dharma
• Pativrata
• Marriage Vows
• Vana Vasa
• Conjugal Duty
• Sahadharmacharini

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Forest (Vana)

FAQs

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

The verse establishes the concept of 'sahadharmacarini', a wife as an equal partner in fulfilling dharma. Rama acknowledges Sita not merely as a companion but as an essential participant in his righteous duties. This reflects the Hindu ideal of marriage as a sacred partnership where both spouses share spiritual responsibilities.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is preparing for his exile and has been deliberating whether to take Sita to the dangerous Dandaka forest. After Sita's firm insistence on accompanying him, Rama accepts her decision and invites her to join him, recognizing her role as his partner in dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes Sita's virtue as a pativrata, a devoted wife who shares in her husband's dharma. Rama's words also reveal his respect for Sita's agency and his recognition that her presence is integral to his spiritual journey, not merely a burden to be managed.