Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

तथा मम सतां श्रेष्ठ किं ध्वजिन्या जगत्पते।सर्वाण्येवानुजानामि चीराण्येवाऽनयन्तु मे।।2.37.4।।

Transliteration

tathā mama satāṁ śreṣṭha kiṁ dhvajinyā jagatpate | sarvāṇy evānujānāmi cīrāṇy evānayantu me || 2.37.4 ||

Translation

Wahai yang terbaik di antara orang saleh, wahai Penguasa dunia! Apakah perlunya bagiku bala tentera? Segalanya kuizinkan; bawakan kepadaku hanya pakaian kulit kayu.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha/Prakāra (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्रेष्ठ: O best (one)
• श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• किम्: what? what use?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); interrogative used idiomatically

• ध्वजिन्या: with the army
• ध्वजिन्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvajinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगत्पते: O lord of the world
• जगत्पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagatpati (प्रातिपदिक: जगत् + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• सर्वाणि: all (things)
• सर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अनुजानामि: I permit, I consent
• अनुजानामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; meaning: permit/allow/consent

• चीराणि: bark garments, rough clothes
• चीराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एव: only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• आनयन्तु: let them bring / bring (you all)
• आनयन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• मे: to me, for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Even if you were to fly from earth to sky, Bharata who knows the traditions of his father's dynasty, will not act otherwise.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• cīra (bark garments)

FAQs

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

Steadfast acceptance of a righteous vow: Rāma rejects power and military support, choosing truthful adherence to the exile-command over convenience or force.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyī’s boons enforce exile, Rāma publicly prepares for forest life and asks only for bark garments, relinquishing royal resources.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga and satya-niṣṭhā—renunciation and unwavering commitment to truth and duty.