Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 16

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

यावत्त्वं न वनं यातः पुरादस्मादभित्वरन्।पिता तावन्न ते राम स्नास्यते भोक्ष्यतेऽपि वा।।2.19.16।।

Transliteration

yāvat tvaṃ na vanaṃ yātaḥ purād asmād abhitvaran |

pitā tāvan na te rāma snāsyate bhokṣyate 'pi vā || 2.19.16 ||

Translation

โอ้พระราม ตราบใดที่พระองค์ยังมิได้รีบออกจากนครนี้ไปสู่ป่า พระบิดาของพระองค์จะไม่ทรงสรงน้ำ และจะไม่เสวยพระกระยาหารด้วย

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधिवाचक-अव्यय (as long as)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यातः: gone; (you) go
• यातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone’ (with negation: ‘do not go’)

• पुरात्: from the city
• पुरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभित्वरन्: hastening
• अभित्वरन्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-त्वर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘hastening’

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तावत्: till then
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधिवाचक-अव्यय (till then)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्नास्यते: will bathe
• स्नास्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भोक्ष्यते: will eat
• भोक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Context

O Rama!, as long as you do not hasten to leave this city for the forest, your father will neither bathe nor eat.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (father, implied)
• Ayodhyā (implied by 'this city')
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as urgency to fulfill a pledged word; however, the verse also illustrates ethically problematic pressure—using the king’s suffering to compel immediate compliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī insists Rāma must depart quickly, claiming Daśaratha will not perform normal acts (bathing/eating) until he does.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s readiness to bear hardship for duty; Daśaratha’s grief-stricken incapacity is also highlighted.