Valmiki Ramayana 2.60.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 9

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

नगरोपवनं गत्वा यथा स्मरमते पुरा।तथैव रमते सीता निर्जनेषु वनेष्वपि।।।।

Transliteration

nagaropavanaṃ gatvā yathā sma ramatē purā |

tathaiva ramatē sītā nirjaneṣu vaneṣv api ||

Translation

ดังที่ครั้งก่อนนางเคยรื่นรมย์ในอุทยานรื่นเริงแห่งนคร บัดนี้นางสีตาก็รื่นรมย์เช่นเดิม แม้ในป่าร้างอันสงัดเหล่านี้

Word by Word

• nagara-upavanam: city-garden/pleasure-grove
• nagara-upavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक) + upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (नगरस्य उपवनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); धातुः √गम्; अर्थः 'having gone'

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (correlative: 'as/just as')

• sma: formerly/indeed (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थे स्मरण/अनुवृत्ति (particle indicating past habitual/remembered action)

• ramate: enjoys/delights
• ramate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: 'formerly')

• tathā: so/in the same way
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप (correlative: 'so/in that way')

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: 'indeed/just')

• ramate: enjoys
• ramate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: लट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• nirjaneṣu: in lonely/deserted (places)
• nirjaneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Locative plural)

• vaneṣu: in forests
• vaneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Locative plural)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-अर्थे (particle: 'even/also')

Context

Earlier, just as Sita used to revel in the gardens of the city, so does she now in those desolate forests.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contentment rooted in right living: joy is not dependent on luxury but on a disciplined, truthful heart.

What is the narrative situation?

A comparison is drawn between Sītā’s former royal life and her present forest life, showing continuity of spirit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s santoṣa (contentment) and mental poise—she can find beauty and peace even in austerity.