Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 38
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
Spoken by RamaSetting: Ayodhyā palace (women’s quarters/inner apartments)Places named: Ayodhyā, Daṇḍaka (implied exile destination)Pre-departure leave-taking before exile to Daṇḍaka
संवासात्परुषं किञ्चिदज्ञानाद्वापि यत्कृतम् ।
तन्मे समनुजानीत सर्वाश्चामन्त्रयामि वः ॥३८॥
saṃvāsāt paruṣaṃ kiñcid ajñānād vāpi yat kṛtam |
tan me samanujānīta sarvāś cāmantrayāmi vaḥ ||38||
“Jika aku pernah melakukan sesuatu yang kasar—sama ada kerana lama bergaul atau kerana kejahilan—ampunkanlah aku. Kini aku memohon diri daripada kamu semua.”
Sandhi Notes
- संवासात्परुषम् = संवासात् + परुषम् (त् + प → त्प)
- किञ्चिदज्ञानात् = किञ्चित् + अज्ञानात् (त् + अ → द + अ)
- अज्ञानाद्वापि = अज्ञानात् + वा + अपि (त् + व → द्व)
- सर्वाश्चामन्त्रयामि = सर्वाः + च + आमन्त्रयामि (ः + च → श्च; च + आ → चा)
If I have been harsh towards you, on account of our living together or through ignorance may you forgive me. I (now) seek leave of you all.
The teaching
Before undertaking a hard duty, cleanse relationships through humility, forgiveness, and proper farewell.
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra-dharma / right speech and respect
- How it resolves
- Ethical closure through apology and respectful leave-taking
For your practice
Practice kṣamā-yācñā and conscious leave-taking; reduces saṃskāra-burden and supports vairāgya.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Forgiving, formal, tender
Themes
- Dharma
- Maryada
- Satya
- Humility
- Forgiveness
- Leave-taking
Ego-softening through apology aligns with antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; leaving without resentment supports inner renunciation.
Taittirīya’s ’mātṛdevo bhava’ ethos: reverence and non-injury in familial relations.
- Rama and Women of the palace
- Prince addressing mothers/elders/relatives with reverence
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.26-2.27 (Rāma’s composed acceptance and courteous speech); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.33 (farewell scenes and blessings)
Manusmṛti/Smṛti ethos: seeking forgiveness from elders before departure
Rāma’s consistent vinaya in Ayodhyākāṇḍa farewell dialogues
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Steady madhyama with gentle uplift on ’samanujānīta’; soft cadence on ’āmantṛayāmi vaḥ’
FAQs
Kṣamā (seeking and granting forgiveness) and maryādā (courteous restraint): before departing for exile, Rāma cleanses relationships by requesting pardon for any unintended hurt.
On the eve of leaving Ayodhyā for exile, Rāma respectfully addresses the women of the palace, asking forgiveness and taking formal leave.
Humility and empathy—Rāma assumes responsibility for possible pain caused by closeness or ignorance and seeks reconciliation.
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