Valmiki Ramayana 2.28.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नदी निलयना स्सर्पा नदीकुटिलगामिनः ।

तिषठ्न्त्यावृत्य पन्थानं ततो दुःखतरं वनम् ॥

. ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.28.20

Transliteration

nadī nilayanā ssarpā nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ |

tiṣaṭhntyāvṛtya panthānaṃ tato duḥkhataraṃ vanam ||

. ||20||

Translation

งูที่อาศัยอยู่ในสายน้ำ เคลื่อนไปคดเคี้ยวดุจลำน้ำ ปิดกั้นหนทางและซุ่มคอย; เพราะฉะนั้นชีวิตในป่าจึงแสนยากยิ่งนัก

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Word by Word

• nadīnilayanāḥ: dwelling in rivers
• nadīnilayanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nadī (नदी) + nilayana (निलयन)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (river-abode); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies sarpāḥ

• sarpāḥ: serpents
• sarpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ: moving in winding ways like a river
• nadīkuṭilagāminaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nadī (नदी) + kuṭila (कुटिल) + gāmin (गामिन्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (river-like-crooked-going); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies sarpāḥ

• tiṣṭhanti: stand/stay
• tiṣṭhanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• āvṛtya: having blocked/covered
• āvṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-vṛt (आ-वृत् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ktvā-artha), avyaya-kṛdanta; expresses prior action

• panthānam: the path
• panthānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panthā (पन्था प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• tataḥ: therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (therefore)

• duḥkhataraṃ: more painful
• duḥkhataraṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तरप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Comparative, Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate for vanam

• vanam: forest life
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

The serpents that live in and move like meandering rivers always obstruct the paths. Therefore, living in the forest is tremendously difficult.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• nadī (river)

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided counsel is concrete, not abstract: Rāma teaches that wise decisions consider practical obstacles and safety.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma intensifies his warning by describing hidden, ambushing dangers that obstruct movement in the wilderness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) and care—warning a loved one with specific, experience-based detail.