Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.33: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 33
तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens
Setting: Road from Ayodhyā toward Tapovana (forest of austerities)Places named: Tapovana, Ayodhyā (implied)Departure into exile; transition from city to forest
तौ सम्प्रयुक्तं तु रथं समास्थितौ तदा ससीतौ रघुवंशवर्धनौ ।
प्रचोदयामास ततस्तुरङ्गमान् स सारथिर्येन पथा तपोवनम् ॥३३॥
tau samprayuktaṃ tu rathaṃ samāsthitau tadā sasītau raghuvaṃśa-vardhanau |
pracodayāmāsa tatas turaṅgamān sa sārathir yena pathā tapovanam ||33||
پھر رگھو وَنش کے وقار بڑھانے والے وہ دونوں، سیتا سمیت، جُتے ہوئے رتھ پر سوار ہوئے؛ اور سارَتھی نے گھوڑوں کو اسی راہ پر ہانکا جو تپوبن کی طرف جاتی تھی۔
Sandhi Notes
- tataḥ samāsthāya < tataḥ+samāsthāya
- sasārathiḥ dāśarathiḥ < sa-sārathiḥ+dāśarathiḥ
- prayāṇamāṅgalya-nimitta-darśanāt is a multi-member tatpuruṣa compound
When Rama and Lakshmana, perpetuaters of the Raghu race along with Sita were seated on the well-yoked chariot, Sumantra urged the horses to move.
The teaching
Dharma is upheld not only by solitary renunciation but by shared steadfastness—family becomes a vehicle for righteous endurance.
Duties in tension
- Royal duty and comfort vs obedience to father’s word (exile)
- Spousal protection vs Sītā’s chosen participation
- Fraternal loyalty vs safety risks in forest
- Ethical theme
- Kṣatriya-dharma / kula-dharma / vanavāsa-niyama
- How it resolves
- Dharma-acceptance with collective resolve
For your practice
Meditation on Rama-Sita-Lakshmana as ideal of dharmic companionship; inspires endurance and disciplined senses (yoked horses).
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Resolute, poignant, forward-moving
Themes
- Dharma
- Maryada
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Exile
- Tapas
Chariot allegory: reins and horses as senses guided toward higher purpose; movement from rājyabhoga to tapas mirrors turning inward.
Kathopaniṣad chariot metaphor resonance (ātman as lord, buddhi as charioteer, senses as horses) suggested by the vivid ratha/turaṅga imagery.
- Rama and Sita
- Husband and wife; shared exile journey (steadfast, affection)
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Brothers; companion-protector in exile (loyal, support)
- Sita and Lakshmana
- Sister-in-law and devoted guardian (protective, reverent)
- Rama and Sumantra
- Royal service enabling departure (cooperative)
- Rama and Raghu lineage
- Embodiment of kula-dharma; upholding dynasty’s ideals (dignified, resolve)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.47 onward (progress into the forest journey); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.40-2.45 (Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa insist on accompanying)
Kathopaniṣad 1.3 chariot metaphor (conceptual parallel); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa: departure to forest with Sītā-Lakṣmaṇa (parallel episode)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated epithet 'Raghuvaṃśa-vardhana' emphasizing kula-dharma
Vasantatilakā (as indicated by longer pādas; not Anuṣṭup)
Narrative-heroic
Slightly elevated, flowing gait to match vṛtta cadence and forward motion
FAQs
Dharma as steadfastness in vows: the royal heirs move toward a life of tapas, showing commitment to duty over comfort.
Rama, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā board the chariot; Sumantra begins driving them toward the forest route.
Resolve and renunciation—choosing the ascetic forest-path while maintaining royal dignity (maryādā).
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