Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.28 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 28

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

गमिष्ये दण्डकारण्यं किमनेनासनेन मे।विष्टरासनयोग्यो हि कालोऽयं मामुपस्थितः।।।।

Transliteration

gamiṣye daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ kim anenāsanena me | viṣṭarāsanayogyo hi kālo 'yaṃ mām upasthitaḥ ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าจักไปสู่ป่าทัณฑกะ บัดนี้ที่นั่งนี้จะมีประโยชน์อันใดแก่ข้าพเจ้าเล่า? เพราะกาลได้มาถึงแล้วที่ข้าพเจ้าควรนั่งเพียงบนเสื่อหญ้ากุศะเท่านั้น

Word by Word

• गमिष्ये: I shall go
• गमिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• दण्डकारण्यम्: to the Dandaka forest
• दण्डकारण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• किम्: what (use)
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आसनेन: seat
• आसनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मे: for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (for me/of me)

• विष्टर-आसन-योग्यः: fit for a grass-mat seat
• विष्टर-आसन-योग्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्टर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to कालः); समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘विष्टरासनस्य योग्यः’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उपस्थितः: has come/arrived
• उपस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित (कृदन्त; उप+स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to कालः)

Context

I am setting forth to Dandaka forest. What is this seat for? A time has come for me when I am fit for a seat of kusa grass.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daṇḍaka forest

FAQs

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

Acceptance of duty with renunciation: Rama aligns his outer life (simple ascetic living) with the inner commitment to uphold dharma, without clinging to royal comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama states plainly that he is leaving for the forest and symbolically rejects palace comfort, embracing ascetic simplicity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya (detachment) and steadiness in adversity.