Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 1

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः

The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

अनुरक्ता महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।अनुजग्मुः प्रयान्तं तं वनवासाय मानवाः।।।।

Transliteration

anuraktā mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam |

anujagmuḥ prayāntaṃ taṃ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ ||

Translation

महात्मनि सत्यपराक्रमे रामे अनुरक्ताः प्रजाः, तं वनवासाय प्रयान्तं पृष्ठतः समनुजग्मुः।

Word by Word

• anuraktāḥ: devoted (people)
• anuraktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √rañj रञ्ज् + anu + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc), Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Bahuvacana (pl); kta-participle used adjectivally

• mahātmānam: the great-souled (one)
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; कर्मधारय: mahān + ātmā

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana

• satyaparākramam: of true prowess
• satyaparākramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rāmam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya-parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): satyasya parākramaḥ (whose prowess is truth / truth-based prowess)

• anujagmuḥ: followed
• anujagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; upasarga anu

• prayāntam: departing
• prayāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of tam/rāmam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु; या)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Śatṛ (present active participle) used adjectivally

• tam: him/that (Rama)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• vanavāsāya: for forest-dwelling (exile)
• vanavāsāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Goal-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana-vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (Dat, 4th), Ekavacana; purpose dative; तत्पुरुष: vane vāsaḥ

• mānavāḥ: men/people
• mānavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to anuraktāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Context

When the high-souled Rama whose strength was his sense of truth set out for the forest, the faithful people followed him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• People/subjects (mānavāḥ)
• Forest exile (vanavāsa)

FAQs

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

Satya is presented as real power: moral truthfulness becomes the basis of legitimate authority and public trust.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma begins his exile, the citizens, unable to bear separation, follow him out of devotion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya-parākrama—strength expressed through unwavering truth and principled action.