Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 9

सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः

Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest

Devanagari script

अनुशिष्टाऽस्मि मात्रा च पित्रा च विविधाश्रयम्।नाऽस्मि सम्प्रति वक्तव्या वर्तितव्यं यथा मया।।।।

Transliteration

anuśiṣṭā ’smi mātrā ca pitrā ca vividhāśrayam | nā ’smi samprati vaktavyā vartitavyaṁ yathā mayā ||

Translation

母亲与父亲已在诸般本分与正当行持上教诲于我；因此如今无需再告知我当如何行事。

Word by Word

• अनुशिष्टा: instructed
• अनुशिष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√śās (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘instructed’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मात्रा: by (my) mother
• मात्रा: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पित्रा: by (my) father
• पित्रा: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• विविधाश्रयम्: varied duties/grounds
• विविधाश्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विविधः आश्रयः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विषय-निर्देशे (with regard to diverse duties/supports)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सम्प्रति: now
• सम्प्रति: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samprati (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (now)

• वक्तव्या: to be told/advised
• वक्तव्या: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be told’ (with न अस्मि = need not be told)

• वर्तितव्यम्: to be conducted/observed
• वर्तितव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + tavya (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भावे (what is to be done/observed)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as/in the manner that)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

I have been so instructed by my parents about diverse duties in all stages of life that I need not be told anything (about my duties) now.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as internalized moral education: Sītā claims agency grounded in upbringing, asserting she knows the right course and will follow it.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā responds to resistance by emphasizing that her decision is informed and principled, not impulsive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and moral maturity—acting from learned dharma rather than mere emotion.