Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

त्यक्तभोगस्य मे राजन् वने वन्येन जीवतः।किं कार्यमनुयात्रेण त्यक्तसङ्गस्य सर्वतः।।2.37.2।।

Transliteration

tyaktabhogasya me rājan vane vanyena jīvataḥ | kiṁ kāryam anuyātreṇa tyaktasaṅgasya sarvataḥ || 2.37.2 ||

Translation

Tâu Đại vương, khi thiếp đã lìa bỏ hưởng thụ, dứt sạch mọi ràng buộc, và sẽ sống trong rừng chỉ nhờ những gì hoang dã ban cho, thì cần gì đoàn tùy tùng theo sau nữa?

Word by Word

• tyaktabhogasya: of one who has renounced pleasures
• tyaktabhogasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta-bhoga (त्यक्तभोग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tyakta + bhoga)

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of me)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (वन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vanyena: by forest food
• vanyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vanya (वन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘with forest-produce’

• jīvataḥ: of (me) living
• jīvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvat (जीवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) from √jīv, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (me) living’

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम् सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• kāryam: use/need
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कार्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘use/need’ अर्थे

• anuyātreṇa: with followers/retinue
• anuyātreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-yātra (अनुयात्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (anu + yātra) ‘with following/retinue’

• tyaktasaṅgasya: of one who has abandoned attachments
• tyaktasaṅgasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta-saṅga (त्यक्तसङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tyakta + saṅga)

• sarvataḥ: entirely
• sarvataḥ: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (सर्वतस् अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in every way/entirely)

Context

The daughter of Janaka, placed one end of the garment round her neck and held the other in her hand, and stood ashamed as she did not know what to do next.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Dasharatha
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined renunciation: when one accepts a vow-bound path (forest-life), one should also give up the comforts and social display that contradict it.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama, preparing for exile, addresses Dasharatha and argues that a forest-dweller who has renounced worldly life has no need of attendants or royal following.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya (detachment) and steadiness in dharma—Rama’s willingness to live simply and consistently with his chosen/accepted duty.