Valmiki Ramayana 2.60.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 16

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

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

अध्वना वातवेगेन सम्भ्रमेणाऽऽतपेन च।न विगच्छति वैदेह्याश्चन्द्रांशु सदृशी प्रभा।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.60.16

Transliteration

adhvanā vātavegena sambhrameṇātapena ca |

na vigacchati vaidehyāś candrāṃśu-sadṛśī prabhā ||

Translation

अध्वना वातवेगेन सम्भ्रमेणाऽऽतपेन च वैदेह्याश्चन्द्रांशुसदृशी प्रभा न विगच्छति।

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Word by Word

• अध्वना: by the journey/on the way
• अध्वना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• वातवेगेन: by the speed of the wind
• वातवेगेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वातस्य वेगः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सम्भ्रमेण: by haste/agitation
• सम्भ्रमेण: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• आतपेन: by heat/sunshine
• आतपेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• विगच्छति: fades/goes away
• विगच्छति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वैदेह्याः: of Sītā (the princess of Videha)
• वैदेह्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• चन्द्रांशु: moonbeam
• चन्द्रांशु: उपमान-आधार (base for comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य अंशुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (as prior member in compound)

• सदृशी: resembling
• सदृशी: विशेषण (Qualifier of prabhā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (चन्द्रांशु-सदृशी = कर्मधारय-समासार्थे प्रयोगः)

• प्रभा: lustre/radiance
• प्रभा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Diverting the context of what he uttered inadvertently relating to Kaikeyi, the charioteer said pleasing words of consolation to Kausalya.

Characters & Entities

• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Wind

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as inner steadiness (sattva) that remains luminous under hardship; true integrity does not ‘fade’ with discomfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra reassures Kausalyā by describing Sītā’s undiminished beauty and strength during the difficult journey into exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and inner radiance—Sītā’s calm strength in adversity.