Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.48 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 48

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

तन्न शक्ष्याम्यहं गन्तुमयोध्यां त्वदृतेऽनघ।वनवासानुयानाय मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि।।2.52.48।।

Transliteration

tan na śakṣyāmy ahaṃ gantum ayodhyāṃ tvadṛte ’nagha | vanavāsānuyānāya mām anu-jñātum arhasi ||

Translation

เพราะฉะนั้น โอ้ผู้ปราศจากมลทิน ข้าหาอาจไปอโยธยาได้หากไร้ท่าน โปรดประทานอนุญาตให้ข้าติดตามท่านไปสู่การเนรเทศในพงไพร

Word by Word

• tat: therefore
• tat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाव-प्राय) = ‘therefore/that being so’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• śakṣyāmi: will be able
• śakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st Person, Singular; Parasmaipada; ‘shall be able’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• gantum: to go
• gantum: Karma (कर्म; infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) = ‘to go’

• ayodhyām: to Ayodhya
• ayodhyām: Karma (कर्म; गत्यर्थक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; destination

• tvadṛte: without you
• tvadṛte: Apādāna (अपादान; separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvat (युष्मद्) + ṛte (अव्यय)
• Form: Upapada indeclinable ‘ṛte’ with Ablative/Genitive sense; here compounded with tvat = ‘without you’

• anagha: O sinless one
• anagha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• vana-vāsa-anuyānāya: for accompanying (you) in forest exile
• vana-vāsa-anuyānāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; purpose/dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose = ‘for following (you) into forest-dwelling’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म; object of anujñātum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative, Singular

• anujñātum: to permit
• anujñātum: Karma (कर्म; infinitival complement of arhasi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) = ‘to permit/consent’

• arhasi: you should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd Person, Singular; Parasmaipada; ‘you ought/are fit’

Context

That is why, O sinless one! I cannot go back to Ayodhya without you. Allow me to accompany you into your exile.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Ayodhyā
• vana (forest)
• vanavāsa (exile)

FAQs

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

The dharma of service and loyalty: Sumantra sees abandoning Rāma as morally impossible, seeking to align his duty with the righteous person rather than mere protocol.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra asks Rāma for consent to accompany him into the forest instead of returning alone to Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fidelity (niṣṭhā) and selfless service (sevā).