Valmiki Ramayana 2.30.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 30, Shloka 38

सीताया वनानुगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

स मां पिता यथा शास्ति सत्यधर्मपथे स्थितः।तथा वर्तितुमिच्छामि स हि धर्मस्सनातनः।।2.30.38।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.30.38

Transliteration

sa māṃ pitā yathā śāsti satya-dharma-pathe sthitaḥ |

tathā vartitum icchāmi sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||2.30.38||

Translation

ดังที่บิดาของข้าพเจ้า ผู้มั่นคงในทางสัจจะและธรรมะ สั่งสอนอย่างไร ข้าพเจ้าปรารถนาจะประพฤติตามนั้น; เพราะนั่นแลคือธรรมะอันเป็นสनาตน—นิรันดร์ไม่เสื่อมคลาย

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he, that (father)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• pitā: father
• pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as, in the manner that
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Correlative (यथा-तथा)

• śāsti: commands, instructs
• śāsti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śās (शास्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• satya-dharma-pathe: on the path of truth and dharma
• satya-dharma-pathe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (satya-dharma = 'true dharma') + तत्पुरुष (…-patha = 'path of …')

• sthitaḥ: standing, established
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (स्था) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with 'pitā/saḥ'

• tathā: so, accordingly
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Correlative (यथा-तथा)

• vartitum: to behave, to abide
• vartitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (वृत्) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुनन्त), 'to act/behave/abide'

• icchāmi: I wish
• icchāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/हेतु-प्राय)

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteousness
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• sanātanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'dharmaḥ'

Context

My father who follows the path of truth and dharma whatever be his commands, I wish to obey. He is, indeed, dharma eternal.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• father (Dasharatha, implied)
• dharma
• satya

FAQs

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

Obedience to a righteous father’s command is framed as adherence to satya and dharma; dharma is presented as timeless, not situational convenience.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama articulates why he will follow his father’s instruction even when it leads to hardship, grounding the decision in satya-dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (satya-niṣṭhā) and steadfastness: Rama aligns personal action with enduring moral law.