Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 16

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

इच्छामि सरितश्शैलान्पल्वलानि वनानि च।द्रष्टुं सर्वत्र निर्भीता त्वया नाथेन धीमता।।।।

Transliteration

icchāmi saritaḥ śailān palvalāni vanāni ca |

draṣṭuṃ sarvatra nirbhītā tvayā nāthena dhīmatā ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਨਾਥ, ਧੀਮਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਜੇ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਰੱਖਿਆਕਰਤਾ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਵੇਂ, ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਨਿਡਰ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਹਰ ਥਾਂ ਭਟਕਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਦੀਆਂ, ਪਹਾੜਾਂ, ਝੀਲਾਂ ਤੇ ਜੰਗਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹਾਂ।

Word by Word

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• सरितः: rivers
• सरितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• शैलान्: mountains
• शैलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• पल्वलानि: lakes/ponds
• पल्वलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• वनानि: forests
• वनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to see’

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• निर्भीता: fearless
• निर्भीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• त्वया: by/with you
• त्वया: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया? (No) तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• नाथेन: with (my) lord
• नाथेन: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• धीमता: wise/sagacious
• धीमता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नाथेन/त्वया)

Context

I wish to enjoy the lotus lakes in full bloom, abounding in swans and ducks in the company of a brave husband like you.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rivers (saritaḥ)
• Mountains (śaila)
• Forests (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as shared life-purpose: companionship in righteous living turns hardship into meaningful experience, grounded in trust and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reframes exile not merely as suffering but as a life to be lived together, under Rāma’s guardianship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness rooted in trust—her courage arises from confidence in Rāma’s wisdom and care.