Valmiki Ramayana 2.27.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 9

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Spoken by Sita to RamaSetting: Ayodhya (implied, prior to forest departure)Pre-departure deliberation before exile

Devanagari script

अनुशिष्टाऽस्मि मात्रा च पित्रा च विविधाश्रयम् ।

नाऽस्मि सम्प्रति वक्तव्या वर्तितव्यं यथा मया ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.27.9

Transliteration

anuśiṣṭā ’smi mātrā ca pitrā ca vividhāśrayam |

nā ’smi samprati vaktavyā vartitavyaṁ yathā mayā ||9||

Translation

Moja matka i mój ojciec pouczyli mnie o wielu obowiązkach i o właściwych drogach postępowania; dlatego teraz nie potrzebuję być pouczany, jak powinienem postępować.

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Word by Word

• अनुशिष्टा: instructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√śās (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘instructed’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• मात्रा: by (my) mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करणम्)

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

• पित्रा: by (my) father
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करणम्)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• विविधाश्रयम्: varied duties/grounds
• Type: Noun
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विविधः आश्रयः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विषय-निर्देशे (with regard to diverse duties/supports)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सम्प्रति: now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samprati (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (now)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)

• वक्तव्या: to be told/advised
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be told’ (with न अस्मि = need not be told)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वर्तितव्यम्: to be conducted/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भावे (what is to be done/observed)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• यथा: as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as/in the manner that)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/manner)

• मया: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करणम्)

Sandhi Notes

• अनुशिष्टाऽस्मि→अनुशिष्टा + अस्मि
• नाऽस्मि→न + अस्मि

Context

I have been so instructed by my parents about diverse duties in all stages of life that I need not be told anything (about my duties) now.

The teaching

When dharma is internalized through right training, one can act from steady discernment rather than needing repeated external direction.

Duties in tension

• Pativratā/companionship with husband vs. obedience to protective counsel
• Personal agency grounded in upbringing vs. deference to spouse’s decision

Ethical theme

Svadharma and autonomy within dharma

For your practice

Encourages daily cultivation of ācāra and self-discipline so that right action becomes spontaneous; useful for vrata/niyama practice.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Self-possessed, resolute, dutiful

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Śikṣā (moral instruction)
• Maryādā
• Itihāsa
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as internalized moral education: Sītā claims agency grounded in upbringing, asserting she knows the right course and will follow it.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā responds to resistance by emphasizing that her decision is informed and principled, not impulsive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and moral maturity—acting from learned dharma rather than mere emotion.