Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 4

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तं वन्दमानं रुदती माता सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।हितकामा महाबाहुं मूध्नर्युपाघ्राय लक्ष्मणम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ vandamānaṃ rudatī mātā saumitrim abravīt | hitakāmā mahābāhuṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya lakṣmaṇam ||

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਸੌਮਿਤ੍ਰਿ ਲਕਸ਼ਮਣ ਵੰਦਨਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ, ਤਦੋਂ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਮਾਤਾ ਸੁਮਿਤਰਾ ਰੋਂਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਵੀ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਹਿਤ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ, ਮਹਾਬਾਹੁ ਲਕਸ਼ਮਣ ਦੇ ਮੱਥੇ ਨੂੰ ਸੁੰਘ ਕੇ (ਚੁੰਮ ਕੇ) ਬੋਲੀ।

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vandamānam: (him) who was saluting
• vandamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying तम्

• rudatī: weeping
• rudatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying माता

• mātā: mother
• mātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saumitram: Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; patronymic ‘son of Sumitrā’

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• hita-kāmā: wishing well
• hita-kāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘desiring his welfare’

• mahā-bāhum: mighty-armed
• mahā-bāhum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; epithet qualifying lakṣmaṇam

• mūrdhni: on the head/forehead
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• upāghrāya: having smelled/kissed
• upāghrāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): ‘having smelled/kissed (as a gesture)’

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

While the mighty-armed Lakshmana paid her homage, Sumitra wailed, kissed him on his forehead, wished him well and said:

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as guidance and support: even in grief, a mother prioritizes the righteous course for her son—service to the rightful path and protection of virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa pays homage to his mother before leaving; Sumitrā, crying, blesses him affectionately and begins to advise him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumitrā’s selfless wisdom—she subordinates personal sorrow to her son’s dharmic duty and well-being.