Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 31

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Addressed to SutaSetting: Ayodhyā (city streets near palace gates)Departure begins; chariot setting into motion

Devanagari script

स च श्रीमानचिन्त्यात्मा रामो दशरथात्मजः ।

सूतं सञ्चोदयामास त्वरितं वाह्यतामिति ॥३१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.31

Transliteration

sa ca śrīmān acintyātmā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ |

sūtaṃ sañcodayāmāsa tvaritaṃ vāhyatām iti ||31||

Translation

Dan Rāma—yang mulia, berjiwa tak terduga, putera Daśaratha—mendesak sais: “Bawalah kereta dengan segera!”

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)

• śrīmān: illustrious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rāmaḥ)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• acintyātmā: one of inconceivable nature
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-cintya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अचिन्त्यः आत्मा यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• daśarathātmajaḥ: son of Dasharatha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (daśarathasya ātmajaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sūtam: charioteer
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• sañcodayāmāsa: exhorted, urged
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + cud (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘प्रेरयामास’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• tvaritam: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative)
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vāhyatām: let (the chariot) be driven
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘वाह्यताम्’ = ‘let it be driven’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• iti: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)
• Role: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ/quotation marker)

Sandhi Notes

• श्रीमानचिन्त्यात्मा = śrīmān + acintyātmā
• वाह्यतामिति = vāhyatām + iti

Context

The son of Dasaratha, glorious Rama of inconceivable courage, exhorted the charioteer to drive the chariot fast.

The teaching

When dharma demands departure, resolve expresses itself as timely action, not hesitation.

Ethical theme

Kartavya / niṣṭhā

For your practice

Practice of saṅkalpa (firm resolve) and disciplined action; move forward in duty without inner agitation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Urgent, resolute, contained-grief

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Tyāga (renunciation)
• Resolve (dṛḍha-niścaya)
• Narrative transition

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• sūta (charioteer)
• chariot (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is decisive obedience to rightful duty: Rāma does not linger in emotional delay but moves forward to fulfill the exile command with disciplined resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

At the moment of departure, Rāma instructs the charioteer to proceed quickly, accelerating the transition from palace life to forest exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness and self-command—acting without wavering once dharma’s course is clear.