Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 3

सीतानिवर्तनप्रयत्नः · Rama’s Attempt to Dissuade Sita from Forest Exile

Spoken by Rama to SitaSetting: Ayodhya (context: counsel to remain)Places named: iha (here)Pre-exile decision point

Devanagari script

सीते महाकुलीनाऽसि धर्मे च निरता सदा ।

इहाऽचर स्वधर्मं त्वं मे यथा मनसस्सुखम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.3

Transliteration

sīte mahākulīnā ’si dharme ca niratā sadā |

ihācara svadharmaṃ tvaṃ me yathā manasaḥ sukham ||3||

Translation

హే సీతా! నీవు మహాకులంలో జన్మించినదానివి, సదా ధర్మనిష్ఠురాలివి. కనుక నీవు ఇక్కడే ఉండి నీ స్వధర్మాన్ని ఆచరించు; అప్పుడు నా మనస్సు ప్రశాంతమవుతుంది।

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Word by Word

• सीते: O Sītā
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• महाकुलीना: of noble lineage
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘महती कुलीना’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective of ‘asi’)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• असि: you are
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• धर्मे: in dharma/duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विषय-अधिकरण (in dharma/duty)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• निरता: devoted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + रम्/र (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘engaged/devoted’ (adjectival)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (here)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative sense)

• आचर: practice/perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• स्वधर्मम्: your own duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘स्वस्य धर्मः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-प्रयोगे संबोधनार्थं न; सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• मे: to me / my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of me/to me’ (genitive/dative form मे)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• यथा: as/so that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/so that)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• मनसः: of (my) mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; फलवाचक (result)
• Role: Phala (फल) (result: happiness)

Sandhi Notes

• महाकुलीनाऽसि = महाकुलीना + असि (आ + अ → आऽ)
• इहाऽचर = इह + आचर (अ + आ → आऽ)
• मनसस्सुखम् = मनसः + सुखम् (ः + स → स् स)

Context

Born in a noble race, O Sita, you are always devoted to duty. Follow your duty, here. It will make me happy.

The teaching

Dharma is invoked through svadharma and kuladharma; peace of mind is sought through right role-based conduct.

Duties in tension

• Sītā’s perceived svadharma (to remain safe/maintain household order) vs her chosen pativratā-dharma (to accompany)
• Rāma’s duty to accept exile vs duty to protect Sītā

Ethical theme

Svadharma / gṛhastha-dharma

For your practice

Practice of svadharma as daily sādhana: steadiness, role-clarity, and restraint in emotionally charged decisions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Earnest, restrained, duty-bound

Themes

• Dharma
• Svadharma
• Ethics
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• dharma

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes svadharma—fulfilling one’s rightful duty according to one’s role and situation—as a stabilizing force that preserves righteousness and inner peace.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma addresses Sītā in Ayodhyā, urging her to remain behind rather than accompany him into forest exile, framing his counsel in terms of dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s prudence and protective responsibility (maryādā) are highlighted, as he appeals to Sītā’s devotion to dharma while seeking her welfare and his own peace of mind.