Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.43: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 43

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Setting: Ayodhya (street/road near palace gates)Parents following the departing chariot

Devanagari script

प्रत्यगारमिवायान्ती वत्सला वत्सकारणात् ।

बद्धवत्सा यथा धेनू राममाताभ्यधावत ॥४३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.43

Transliteration

pratyagāram ivāyāntī vatsalā vatsakāraṇāt |

baddhavatsā yathā dhenū rāmamātābhyadhāvata ||43||

Translation

พระมารดาของพระรามวิ่งตามพระองค์ไป ดุจแม่โคผู้เปี่ยมเมตตา เมื่อถูกผูกลูกโคไว้ ก็รีบมุ่งสู่คอกเพราะห่วงลูกโค

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Word by Word

• प्रति: towards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• अगारम्: the shed/house
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)

• आयान्ती: coming
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वत्सला: affectionate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वत्सकारणात्: because of the calf
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वत्सस्य कारणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• बद्धवत्सा: whose calf is tied
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (बद्धः वत्सः यस्याः सा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)

• धेनूः: a cow
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• राममाता: Rama's mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य माता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अभ्यधावत: ran after/ran towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• प्रत्यगारमिव → प्रति + अगारम् + इव
• इवायान्ती → इव + आयान्ती
• राममाताभ्यधावत → राममाता + अभ्यधावत

Context

Rama's mother ran after the chariot, like an affectionate cow running towards the shed to join its fastened calf.

The teaching

Vātsalya is sacred, yet dharma may demand separation; the heart’s bond is revealed by the pain of letting go.

Duties in tension

• Maternal duty/instinct to keep the son near and protect him
• Acceptance of royal dharma and Rāma’s vow-bound exile

Ethical theme

Attachment vs duty (viraha-driven dharma-saṅkaṭa)

How it resolves

Unresolved in the moment (emotion overwhelms; pursuit)

For your practice

Bhakti practitioners can reflect on vātsalya and viraha as intensifiers of love; also a lesson in surrender when outcomes are beyond control.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Maternal longing, frantic pursuit, aching tenderness

Themes

• Dharma
• Karuna
• Matr-bhakti
• Viraha
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights familial dharma and natural affection: a mother’s protective love is portrayed as instinctive and morally dignified, not a weakness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā, unable to bear separation, runs after Rāma’s chariot as he leaves for exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vātsalya (maternal affection) and ananya-prema (single-minded love).