Valmiki Ramayana 2.33.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 6

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः · Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Spoken by Ayodhya citizensSetting: Ayodhya (implied, departure context)Transition from royal procession to solitary exile-bound movement

Devanagari script

यं यान्तमनुयाति स्म चतुरङ्गबलं महत् ।

तमेकं सीतया सार्धमनुयाति स्म लक्ष्मणः ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.33.6

Transliteration

yaṃ yāntam anuyāti sma caturaṅgabalaṃ mahat |

tam ekaṃ sītayā sārdham anuyāti sma lakṣmaṇaḥ ||6||

Translation

यं यान्तमनुयाति स्म चतुरङ्गबलं महत्, स तु अद्य एक एव गच्छन्—तमेव सीतया सार्धं लक्ष्मणोऽनुयाति स्म।

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Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम
• Role: कर्म (object of anuyāti)

• यान्तम्: going
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √या (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण

• अनुयाति: follows
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया

• स्म: (used to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (past-habitual marker)
• Role: काल/वृत्त

• चतुरङ्गबलम्: the fourfold army
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + अङ्ग + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘four-limbed’ army)
• Role: कर्ता (subject of anuyāti)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बलम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनुवादक-सर्वनाम (correlative)
• Role: कर्म (object of anuyāti)

• एकम्: alone
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण

• सीतया: with Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सह-योगे
• Role: सह (companion)

• सार्धम्: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (with/together)
• Role: सहकारक (accompaniment marker)

• अनुयाति: follows
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया

• स्म: (used to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात
• Role: काल/वृत्त

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता

Sandhi Notes

• सार्धमनुयाति = सार्धम् + अनुयाति

Context

Whenever Rama went out, powerful army of four divisions used to follow him. Today he is walking alone followed by Lakshmana and Sita.

The teaching

True sovereignty is self-mastery: when dharma calls, external power can be relinquished without loss of inner resolve.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya-prince’s public role supported by army and state
• Filial obedience and acceptance of exile
• Spousal duty (Sītā’s choice to accompany)
• Fraternal duty (Lakṣmaṇa’s protective service)

Ethical theme

Dharma-niṣṭhā / satya-vrata

How it resolves

Renunciatory obedience (tyāga in service of satya and pitṛ-vacana)

For your practice

Contemplation on reducing dependence on external supports; cultivating steadfast companionship in dharma (satsaṅga) and fidelity to vows.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Austere, poignant, resolute

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Family loyalty
• Renunciation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

True dharma is not upheld by force or pomp but by faithful companionship and principled action; the shift from army to family-followers highlights inner righteousness over outer power.

What is the narrative situation?

Citizens contrast Rāma’s former royal processions with his present solitary departure, accompanied only by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s devotion and Sītā’s steadfastness—loyalty that chooses hardship in support of dharma.