Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 2

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तं चापि समनुज्ञाप्य धर्मज्ञस्सीतया सह।राघव श्शोकसम्मूढो जननीमभ्यवादयत्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ cāpi samanujñāpya dharmajñaḥ sītayā saha | rāghavaḥ śoka-sammūḍho jananīm abhyavādayat ||

Translation

ครั้นแล้ว เมื่อได้กราบทูลลาแด่พระองค์นั้น (ทศรถ) แล้ว ราฆวะผู้รู้ธรรม พร้อมด้วยนางสีดา แม้จะถูกความโศกครอบงำ ก็ได้กราบนมัสการมารดาด้วยความเคารพยิ่ง

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (अपि = also/even)

• samanujñāpya: having taken leave
• samanujñāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-anu-jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): ‘having taken leave / having obtained permission’

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of duty
• dharmajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक; jña from ज्ञा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘knower of dharma’

• sītayā: with Sita
• sītayā: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; postposition meaning ‘with’ (सहयोग)

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śoka-sammūḍhaḥ: bewildered by grief
• śoka-sammūḍhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + sammūḍha (कृदन्त; मुह् धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP (क्त) ‘completely bewildered’ by grief

• jananīm: mother
• jananīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abhyavādayat: paid obeisance / greeted
• abhyavādayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ā-vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Context

Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana also boarded that chariot decorated with gold and shining like blazing fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Daśaratha
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Even under intense sorrow, Rāma maintains maryādā (proper conduct): he takes formal leave and honors his mother, showing that dharma is upheld through disciplined respect and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations for exile proceed, Rāma departs after taking leave of Daśaratha and then approaches Kauśalyā to offer reverence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial piety and self-control: Rāma’s grief does not break his commitment to respectful, dharmic procedure.