Valmiki Ramayana 2.60.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 3

षष्टितमः सर्गः · Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं दण्डकान्नय मामपि ।

अथ तान्नानुगच्छामि गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.60.3

Transliteration

nivartaya rathaṃ śīghraṃ daṇḍakān naya mām api |

atha tān nānugacchāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam ||3||

Translation

Zawróć rydwan natychmiast i zabierz mnie również do lasu Dandaka. Jeśli nie będę podążać za nimi, to odejdę do siedziby Yamy, śmierci.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• nivartaya: turn back
• nivartaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; causative sense in usage 'turn back'

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Singular

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण)

• daṇḍakān: to Dandaka (region)
• daṇḍakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Plural; destination as object with naya

• naya: take/lead
• naya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• atha: then/if
• atha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle; conditional/sequential (अथ)

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Plural

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation

• anugacchāmi: I follow
• anugacchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• gamiṣyāmi: I shall go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future) / commonly treated as simple future sense, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• yamakṣayam: to Yama's abode
• yamakṣayam: Gati/Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: yamasya kṣayaḥ (abode/realm of Yama); Pumlinga, Accusative, Singular

Context

'Turn back your chariot immediately and take me to the Dandaka forest. If I do not follow them, I shall enter the world of Yama'.

Characters & Entities

• Dandaka forest (Daṇḍaka)
• Yama

FAQs

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

It underscores the sincerity of commitment: Kausalya’s words show that for her, life’s meaning is inseparable from righteous kinship. The verse also reflects the human cost borne by families when dharma-driven vows (like exile) are upheld.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya urges Sumantra to reverse the chariot and bring her to the forest, expressing that failing to follow Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana would be tantamount to death for her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intensity of devotion and truthfulness of emotion—her grief becomes a firm, uncompromising resolve.