Valmiki Ramayana 2.33.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 8

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

Setting: Ayodhyā royal highway (rāja-mārga)Places named: rāja-mārga (royal highway)Procession-like movement toward departure; public visibility

Devanagari script

या न शक्या पुरा द्रष्टुं भूतैराकाशगैरपि ।

तामद्य सीतां पश्यन्ति राजमार्गगता जनाः ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.33.8

Transliteration

yā na śakyā purā draṣṭuṃ bhūtair ākāśagair api |

tām adya sītāṃ paśyanti rājamārgagatā janāḥ ||8||

Translation

మునుపు ఆకాశచారులైన భూతగణములకైనా దర్శించుట కష్టమైన ఆ సీతను, నేడు రాజమార్గమున నడిచే జనులు దర్శిస్తున్నారు।

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Word by Word

• yā: she who (Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular); relative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle/निषेध)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)

• śakyā: possible (to be)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śak शक्)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kṛtya-pratyaya (potential/passive adjective), meaning 'possible to be'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• purā: formerly, earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)

• draṣṭum: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Tumunanta infinitive (तुमुनन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त); 'to see'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)

• bhūtaiḥ: by beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (plural)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ākāśagaiḥ: sky-going (flying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gam गम्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: ākāśa-gāḥ 'sky-going'; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying bhūtaiḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• api: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (particle: 'even/also')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• tām: that (her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• adya: today, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)

• sītām: Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• paśyanti: see, behold
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (plural), Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rājamārgagatāḥ: those on the royal road
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja-mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; √gam गम्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: rāja-mārga-gatāḥ 'gone on the king’s road'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; past passive participle used adjectivally
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• janāḥ: people
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• bhūtairākāśagairapi = bhūtaiḥ + ākāśagaiḥ + api
• tāmady = tām + adya
• rājamārgagatā = rāja-mārga-gatāḥ

Context

It was not possible even for the creatures wandering in the sky (birds) to have a glimpse of Sita before. Now passers-by walking the highway can behold her.

The teaching

When dharma calls, even the protected step into the public and the difficult without hesitation.

Duties in tension

• Royal modesty/seclusion vs wifely duty to accompany husband
• Personal comfort and safety vs commitment to shared dharma in exile

Ethical theme

Strī-dharma (pativratā) within broader dharma of exile

How it resolves

Dharma of companionship overrides courtly convention

For your practice

Bhāvanā on Sītā as śraddhā and steadfastness: choosing dharma over comfort and reputation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Astonished, public, poignant

Themes

• Dharma
• Renunciation
• Royal decorum
• Public witness
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma’s consequences become publicly visible: royal privacy and luxury give way to humility and exposure when the family accepts righteous hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, previously secluded within palace norms, is now seen openly on the main road as she accompanies Rāma toward exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast companionship and willingness to share dharmic hardship alongside Rāma.