Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 98

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

प्रणष्टजनसम्बाधं क्षेत्रारामविवर्जितम्।विषमं च प्रपातं च वनमद्य प्रवेक्ष्यति।।2.52.98।।

Transliteration

praṇaṣṭa-jana-sambādhaṃ kṣetrārāma-vivarjitam | viṣamaṃ ca prapātaṃ ca vanam adya pravekṣyati ||2.52.98||

Translation

今日她将步入那无有人群喧聚、远离田畴园圃之林；其地崎岖难行，且多深壑与陡坠之险。

Word by Word

• praṇaṣṭa-jana-sambādham: devoid of human concourse
• praṇaṣṭa-jana-sambādham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√naś (धातु) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + sambādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa chain: praṇaṣṭa-jana = 'people having disappeared' (kta), sambādha = 'crowd/concourse'; overall 'devoid of people-crowd' qualifying vanam

• kṣetra-ārāma-vivarjitam: without fields and gardens
• kṣetra-ārāma-vivarjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + ārāma (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√vṛj/√varj (धातु)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta (PPP) of vi-√varj 'deprived of'; tatpuruṣa: 'devoid of fields and gardens'

• viṣamam: uneven/difficult
• viṣamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies vanam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta

• prapātam: precipice/steep fall
• prapātam: Karma (कर्म; as part of what is entered/seen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; coordinated object-description with vanam (as feature within)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of pravekṣyati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya

• pravekṣyati: will enter
• pravekṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Lṛṭ-lakāra (Future), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

Now she will enter the forest which is devoid of concourse of people, farms and pleasure groves and which is uneven and inaccessible and full of deep ditches.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as lived discipline: choosing righteousness entails leaving comfort and social protection, and accepting austere surroundings with truthfulness and resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma describes the nature of the wilderness Sītā is about to enter—contrasting it with civilized life of fields, gardens, and people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s anticipated fortitude (sahana-śīlatā): her willingness to share exile implies courage and devotion.