Valmiki Ramayana 2.44.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 18

सुमित्रोपदेशः

Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

दुःखजं विसृजन्त्यस्रं निष्क्रामन्तमुदीक्ष्य यम्।अयोध्यायां जनास्सर्वे शोकवेगसमाहताः।।।कुशचीरधरं देवं गच्छन्तमपराजितम्।सीतेवानुगता लक्ष्मी स्तस्य किं नाम दुर्लभम्।।।।

Transliteration

duḥkhajaṃ visṛjanty asraṃ niṣkrāmantam udīkṣya yam | ayodhyāyāṃ janāḥ sarve śokavega-samāhatāḥ || kuśa-cīra-dharaṃ devaṃ gacchantam aparājitam | sīteva anugatā lakṣmī tasya kiṃ nāma durlabham ||

Translation

เมื่อชาวอโยธยาทั้งปวงเห็นพระองค์เสด็จออกไป ต่างถูกกระแสโศกครอบงำ หลั่งน้ำตาอันเกิดจากความทุกข์ แต่พระองค์ก็เสด็จไป—ดุจเทพเจ้า ผู้ไม่อาจปราชัย นุ่งห่มหญ้ากุศะและเปลือกไม้ และพระลักษมีตามเสด็จดุจประหนึ่งเป็นนางสีดาเอง สำหรับบุรุษเช่นนั้น สิ่งใดเล่าจะยากเย็น?

Word by Word

• धनुर्ग्रहवरः: best at wielding the bow
• धनुर्ग्रहवरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + ग्रह + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: धनुर्ग्रह (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: धनुषः ग्रहः) + वर (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः): धनुर्ग्रहे वरः (best in bow-handling)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• बाणखड्गास्त्रभृत्: bearer of arrows, sword, and weapons
• बाणखड्गास्त्रभृत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + खड्ग + अस्त्र + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: बाण-खड्ग-अस्त्राणि भर्ता (bearer of arrows, sword, weapons)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्रजति: goes
• व्रजति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial locative): 'in front'

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• नाम: indeed/at all
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न-निपात

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

When the people of Ayodhya saw the god-like Rama departing, clad in robes of kusha and bark, they were moved to tears of grief. What is impossible for him who is unconquerable and whom Sita, like the goddess of fortune, follows.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya
• Sita
• Lakshmi (Fortune)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfastness under suffering: Rama’s acceptance of exile does not diminish his auspiciousness; righteousness is portrayed as carrying its own ‘fortune’ even in hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama departs Ayodhya for the forest in ascetic attire; the citizens grieve intensely, while the speaker interprets his departure as still marked by invincibility and auspicious destiny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aparājitva (unconquerability) and inner sovereignty—Rama remains ‘victorious’ in spirit and moral power even while renouncing royal life.