Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 16

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तथैवायुधजालानि भ्रातृभ्यां कवचानि च।रथोपस्थे प्रतिन्यस्य सचर्म कठिनं च तत्।।।।सीतातृतीयानारूढान् दृष्ट्वा दृष्टमचोदयत्।सुमन्त्रस्सम्मतानश्वान् वायुवेगसमान्जवे।।।।

Transliteration

tathaivāyudha-jālāni bhrātṛbhyāṃ kavacāni ca | rathopasthe pratinyasya sa-carma kaṭhinaṃ ca tat ||

Translation

Demikian juga, baginda meletakkan di tempat duduk kereta perang himpunan senjata dan baju zirah untuk kedua-dua saudara, beserta perisai dan pelindung yang teguh.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/similarly
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (तद्वत्/एवम्)

• एव: just/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic particle

• आयुधजालानि: masses/nets of weapons
• आयुधजालानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyudha-jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आयुधानां जालानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• भ्रातृभ्याम्: for the two brothers
• भ्रातृभ्याम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी? (here चतुर्थी), द्विवचन; 'for the two brothers'

• कवचानि: armours
• कवचानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• रथोपस्थे: on/in the chariot-seat/centre
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha-upastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रथस्य उपस्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रतिन्यस्य: having placed
• प्रतिन्यस्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ni-as (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (absolutive): 'having placed/laid down'

• सचर्म: together with a shield/leather
• सचर्म: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (सह चर्मणा), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial/qualifying 'together with a shield/leather'

• कठिनम्: hard/firm
• कठिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭhina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies तत् (covering)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• तत्: that (equipment)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to protective covering/gear

• सीतातृतीयान्: having Sita as the third (i.e., with Sita as third)
• सीतातृतीयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sītā-tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (सीता तृतीया येषाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies आरूढान् (Rama-Lakshmana etc.)

• आरूढान्: mounted/ascended (ones)
• आरूढान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'those who had mounted'

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive): 'having seen'

• दृष्टम्: briskly/at once
• दृष्टम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛṣṭa (दृश् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative): 'visibly/straightaway/briskly'

• अचोदयत्: urged/drove
• अचोदयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra
• सुमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्मतान्: approved/excellent
• सम्मतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-mata (मन् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies अश्वान्

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वायुवेगसमान्: equal to the speed of the wind
• वायुवेगसमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu-vega-samāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वायोः वेगः इव समानाः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies अश्वान्

• जवे: in speed
• जवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: java (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; adverbial locative 'in speed'

Context

So also Dasaratha secured a multitude of weapons, shields and protective leathercoverings for hands and placed them at the centre of the chariot, for use by the brothers. When Sumantra ensured that Sita, Rama and Lakshmana boarded the chariot, he briskly hastened the horses which were as speedy as the wind.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• weapons (āyudha)
• armour (kavaca)
• shield (carma)
• chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma also entails prudent protection: preparing the righteous for danger is part of responsible kingship and guardianship.

What is the narrative situation?

Before the journey, protective equipment—arms and armour—is arranged in the chariot for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forethought and protective care by the elders/royal household in ensuring the exiles are not defenseless.