← 2.23.15 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 23: Rāma asks Sītā to remain in Ayodhyā · 2.23.17 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.23.16

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 23: Rāma asks Sītā to remain in Ayodhyā. Rāma reveals the exile and asks Sītā to respect Bharata’s authority, honour the Queens and care for his grieving parents

In the sequence: she asks why he has returned without the parasol, fans, ceremonial escort, auspicious rites, and other signs she expected

2.23.16

na ca kāñcanacitraṃ te paśyāmi priyadarśana
bhadrāsanaṃ puraskṛtya yāntaṃ vīrapuraḥsaram

O you of lovely aspect, nor do I see your throne bright with gold set before you, nor you going forth with heroes at the head.

Words: na ca — and not; kāñcanacitraṃ — bright with gold; te — your; paśyāmi — I see; priyadarśana — O you of lovely appearance; bhadrāsanaṃ — the auspicious throne; puraskṛtya — having placed in front; yāntaṃ — going; vīrapuraḥsaram — with heroes going before

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.