Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ · चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Spoken by Rama to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (palace, public presence implied)Places named: forest (vana)Pre-departure for forest exile

Devanagari script

तथा मम सतां श्रेष्ठ किं ध्वजिन्या जगत्पते ।

सर्वाण्येवानुजानामि चीराण्येवाऽनयन्तु मे ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.4

Transliteration

tathā mama satāṁ śreṣṭha kiṁ dhvajinyā jagatpate |

sarvāṇy evānujānāmi cīrāṇy evānayantu me ||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.

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• सतां श्रेष्ठ (satām śreṣṭha) vocative
• जगत्पते = जगत् + पते (tatpuruṣa)
• सर्वाण्येव = सर्वाणि + एव
• चीराण्येव = चीराणि + एव
• एवाऽनयन्तु = एव + आनयन्तु (avagraha)

Context

O best among the virtuous! O lord of the world, I do not have any use for this army. I am giving away everything (to Bharata). Bring the bark only.

The teaching

When dharma demands sacrifice, relinquish even legitimate power; keep only what serves the vow.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya duty to rule/protect vs filial duty to uphold father+cs promise
• Personal right vs public vow

Ethical theme

Satya/tyāga

How it resolves

Renunciation in favor of satya-dharma

Devotion and practice

Japa/meditation on Rāma+cs tyāga to strengthen resolve and simplicity; cultivate non-dependence on external force.

Deity praised

Rāma (as dharma-mūrti, implied by epithets)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Resolute, unattached, majestic

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Tyāga (renunciation)
• Maryādā (propriety)
• Rājadharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.