Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 2

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः · The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Setting: Road outside Ayodhya (procession route)Places named: AyodhyaPursuit after Rama’s departing chariot

Devanagari script

निवर्तितेऽपि च बलात्सुहृद्वर्गे च राजनि ।

नैव ते संन्यवर्तन्त रामस्यानुगता रथम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.45.2

Transliteration

nivartite ’pi ca balāt suhṛdvarge ca rājani |

naiva te saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham ||2||

Translation

Choć król i grono przyjaciół zostali zmuszeni do powrotu, ci, którzy podążali za Ramą, wcale się nie zawrócili; szli dalej za rydwanem Ramy.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• nivartite: even when (they were) turned back
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√vṛt (धातु; वृत्त्/वृत्)
• Form: Saptamī (Loc, 7th), Ekavacana; kta (past passive participle) used in locative absolute sense: 'when (they were) turned back'
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)

• api: even/though
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle) expressing concession
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya (conjunction)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• balāt: forcibly
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग/पुं (commonly neuter in sense), Pañcamī (Abl, 5th), Ekavacana; adverbial ablative
• Role: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)

• suhṛdvarge: in the group of friends
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd-varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: suhṛdāṃ vargaḥ (group of friends)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya (conjunction)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• rājani: (even) when the king (was involved) / in the king's case
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha (negation particle)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• eva: indeed/at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa (emphatic particle)
• Role: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)

• te: they/those (people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• saṃnyavartanta: turned back/returned
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ni-√vṛt (धातु; वृत्त्/वृत्)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• anugatāḥ: having followed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (past active sense here): 'having followed'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of te)

• ratham: the chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म; object of anugatāḥ in sense 'followed the chariot')

Sandhi Notes

• nivartite 'pi = nivartite + api
• naiva = na + eva
• rāmasyānugatā = rāmasya + anugatāḥ. balātsuhṛdvarge = balāt + suhṛdvarge (sandhi at word boundary)

Context

The king and the hosts of friends were forcibly sent back but they did not return. They continued to follow the chariot of Rama.

The teaching

When dharma is perceived as embodied in a person, loyalty can override even coercive social pressure—raising questions of rightful authority.

Duties in tension

• Obedience to king’s restraint/order vs devotion to Rama as dharmic heir
• Social order (returning) vs moral impulse to accompany the exiled

Ethical theme

Śiṣya/subject-dharma vs conscience

How it resolves

Noncompliance by devotees; persistence in following

For your practice

Illustrates ananya-bhāva (single-minded following) as a devotional discipline, though here expressed socially.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Unyielding, heartbroken, pressing-forward

Themes

• Dharma
• Bhakti
• Itihasa
• Public grief
• Kingship
• Renunciation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• the King (Daśaratha)
• chariot

FAQs

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

The verse highlights steadfast loyalty to dharma and to a righteous person: people remain committed to Rama despite royal orders, implying that moral authority can outweigh coercive power.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds toward exile, the king and others are compelled to go back, but many followers continue trailing Rama’s chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The followers’ steadfast devotion and moral resolve; implicitly, Rama’s worthiness that inspires such adherence.