Valmiki Ramayana 2.29.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 4

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

मृगा स्सिंहा गजाश्चैव शार्दूला श्शरभास्तथा। पक्षिण स्सृमराश्चैव ये चान्ये वनचारिणः।।2.29.3।।अदृष्टपूर्वरूपत्वात्सर्वे ते तव राघव। रूपं दृष्ट्वाऽपसर्पेयुर्भये सर्वे हि बिभ्यति।।2.29.4।।

Transliteration

mṛgāḥ siṃhā gajāś caiva śārdūlāḥ śarabhas tathā | pakṣiṇaḥ sṛmarāś caiva ye cānye vanacāriṇaḥ ||2.29.3||

adṛṣṭapūrvarūpatvāt sarve te tava rāghava | rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā 'pasarpeyuḥ bhaye sarve hi bibhyati ||2.29.4||

Translation

Nào nai, sư tử, voi, hổ và loài śarabha; nào chim muông, sṛmara cùng mọi sinh linh khác lang thang chốn rừng sâu—vì chưa từng thấy dung mạo của ngài, hỡi Rāghava, hễ vừa trông thấy liền lùi bước; bởi khi nỗi kinh sợ khởi lên, muôn loài đều run sợ.

Word by Word

• tvayā: with you/by you
• tvayā: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• gantavyam: must go (is to be gone)
• gantavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे 'must go' (obligation)

• mayā: by me/I
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• gurujanājñayā: by the elders' command
• gurujanājñayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru-jana + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: guru-janānām ājñā = command of elders

• tvad-viyogena: by separation from you
• tvad-viyogena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक) + viyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'separation from you'

• me: my/of me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tyaktavyam: must be given up
• tyaktavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'must be abandoned'

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

Context

O scion of the Raghu race antelopes, lions, elephants, tigers, sarabhas, birds, srimaras and other wild beasts wandering in the forest have not seen your beauty before. Now on seeing you, they will flee away. In fact, who will not be afraid of seeing an object of fear?.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sītā
• forest (vana)
• mṛga
• siṃha
• gaja
• śārdūla
• śarabha

FAQs

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

The verse supports righteous confidence: Sītā argues that Rāma’s very presence embodies protective dharma, making fearsome surroundings less threatening.

What is the narrative situation?

To counter Rāma’s warnings about forest dangers, Sītā claims the wild creatures would flee at the sight of Rāma, implying safety in accompanying him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s awe-inspiring valor (tejas) as perceived by Sītā, and Sītā’s persuasive courage in reframing danger.