Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.45 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 45

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तथा रुदन्तीं कौसल्यां रथं तमनुधावतीम्। क्रोशन्तीं राम रामेति हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।।2.40.44।।रामलक्ष्मणसीतार्थं स्रवन्तीं वारि नेत्रजम्। असकृत्प्रैक्षत तदा नृत्यन्तीमिव मातरम्।।2.40.45।।

Transliteration

tathā rudantīṃ kausalyāṃ rathaṃ tam anudhāvatīm |

krośantīṃ rāma rāmēti hā sīte lakṣmaṇēti ca ||

rāmalakṣmaṇasītārthaṃ sravantīṃ vāri netrajam |

asakṛt praikṣata tadā nṛtyantīm iva mātaram ||

Translation

Demikianlah Kausalyā menangis sambil mengejar rata itu, meratap: “Rāma, Rāma! Aduhai, Sītā! Lakṣmaṇa!”; air mata mengalir kerana Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa dan Sītā. Rāma pun berulang kali menoleh kepada Kausalyā dalam dukacitanya.

Word by Word

• रामलक्ष्मणसीतार्थम्: for the sake of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita
• रामलक्ष्मणसीतार्थम्: Hetu (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + लक्ष्मण + सीता + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वपूर्वक तत्पुरुष (रामलक्ष्मणसीतानाम् अर्थः/हेतुः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• स्रवन्तीम्: shedding/flowing
• स्रवन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वारि: water (tears)
• वारि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (what is shed)

• नेत्रजम्: born from the eyes
• नेत्रजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नेत्र + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नेत्रेभ्यः जातम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of vāri)

• असकृत्: again and again
• असकृत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्ति-वाचक अव्यय (repeatedly)

• प्रैक्षत: looked at/saw
• प्रैक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• नृत्यन्तीम्: dancing
• नृत्यन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• मातरम्: (his) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

Context

While Kausalya was weeping and running after the chariot, crying O 'Rama, O Sita, O Lakshmana, shedding tears for them, Rama repeatedly glanced at her who was twisting and bending as if in a dancing pose.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Even when duty compels departure, dharma requires acknowledging and honoring parental bonds; Rāma’s repeated glance signifies respect and empathy.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/parallel transmission of the scene where Kauśalyā runs after the chariot crying out; Rāma looks back repeatedly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial piety (pitṛ-mātṛ-bhakti) expressed through attentive compassion.