Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

च्यवनं तु नमस्कृत्य राजपुत्री पतिव्रता।पतिशोकातुरा तस्मात्पुत्रं देवी व्यजायत।।1.70.36।।

Transliteration

cyavanaṃ tu namaskṛtya rājaputrī pativratā | patiśokāturā tasmāt putraṃ devī vyajāyata || 1.70.36 ||

Translation

Having bowed to Cyavana, the princess—faithful to her husband—though afflicted by sorrow for her lord, gave birth to a son.

Word by Word

• sapatnyā: by the co-wife
• sapatnyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अन्वय/विरोधबोधक अव्यय)

• garaḥ: poison
• garaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattaḥ: was given
• dattaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• garbha-jighāṃsayā: with the intent to kill the embryo
• garbha-jighāṃsayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) + jighāṃsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्म: garbham jighāṃsā); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (सह-योगे) governing instrumental

• tena: with that
• tena: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gareṇa: with poison
• gareṇa: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण अव्यय)

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sagaraḥ: Sagara
• sagaraḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

This eldest queen who was a devoted wife, afflicted with sorrow due to loss of herhusband gave birth to a son by the grace of Chyavana.

Characters & Entities

• Cyavana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights pativratā-dharma—steadfast fidelity and inner discipline—showing that righteousness persists even under grief.

What is the narrative situation?

After honoring the sage Cyavana, the elder queen, despite sorrow, delivers her child.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The queen’s steadfastness and devotion (pativratā-bhāva), combined with resilience amid loss.