Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 32

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Spoken by Dasharatha to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal quarters)

Devanagari script

न हि सत्यात्मनस्तात धर्माभिमनस स्तव ।

विनिवर्तयितुं बुद्धिः शक्यते रघुनन्दन ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.32

Transliteration

na hi satyātmanas tāta! dharmābhimanasa stava |

vinivartayituṃ buddhiḥ śakyate raghunandana ||32||

Translation

न हि सत्यात्मनस्तात धर्माभिमनसस्तव । विनिवर्तयितुं बुद्धिः शक्यते रघुनन्दन ॥

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Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• hi: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (emphasis/cause)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• satyātmanas: of you, the true-souled one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; satya + ātman)
• Form: Masculine, genitive (षष्ठी) singular; karmadhāraya compound qualifying 'tava' (you who are true-souled)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• tāta: dear son
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• dharmābhimanasaḥ: of you, devoted to dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-abhimanas (प्रातिपदिक; dharma + abhimanas)
• Form: Masculine, genitive (षष्ठी) singular; tatpuruṣa compound; qualifying 'tava'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• tava: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, genitive (षष्ठी) singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)

• vinivartayitum: to turn back / dissuade
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√vṛt (धातु) (causative sense)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/tumun)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)

• buddhiḥ: the resolve/mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• śakyate: is possible
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular, ātmanepada; passive sense 'is possible'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• raghunandana: O delight of the Raghus
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu-nandana (प्रातिपदिक; raghu + nandana)
• Form: Masculine, vocative (सम्बोधन) singular; tatpuruṣa compound
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• satyātmanastāta → satyātmanas tāta
• dharmābhimanasa stava → dharmābhimanasaḥ tava

Context

O my beloved son! O delight of the Raghus! you are devoted to truth and duty. It is difficult to dissuade you from your resolve .

The teaching

When one+c s self is anchored in truth and dharma, persuasion rooted in emotion cannot overturn righteous resolve.

Duties in tension

• Rāma+c s duty to uphold father+c s word/royal dharma vs. father+c s paternal desire to retain him
• Personal affection vs. impersonal dharma

Ethical theme

Satya-dharma / niścaya

How it resolves

Affirmation of Rāma+c s steadfast dharma as non-negotiable

For your practice

Contemplation on satya and dharma-niśśha steadiness; useful for vrata/niyama reinforcement.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Steadfast, grave, reverential

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Resolve

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Raghu dynasty (Raghu, raghunandana)
• satya
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as an inner orientation: when truth and duty define a person’s character, ethical steadfastness becomes nearly immovable.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha recognizes that Rāma will not abandon the dharmic course of exile, despite pleas or temptations to reverse it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unwavering resolve grounded in satya and dharma.