Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 121, Shloka 17

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

प्रत्ययार्थंतुलोकानांत्रयाणांसत्यसंश्रयः ।उपेक्षेचापिवैदेहींप्रविशन्तींहुताशनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

pratyayārthaṁ tu lokānāṁ trayāṇāṁ satya-saṁśrayaḥ |

upekṣe cāpi vaidehīṁ praviśantīṁ hutāśanam ||

Translation

But for the sake of convincing the three worlds—since I rest upon truth—I even stood by as Vaidehī entered the fire.

Word by Word

• प्रत्ययार्थम्: for the sake of assurance
• प्रत्ययार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्ययार्थ (प्रातिपदिक; प्रत्यय + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थकं (acc of purpose: for the sake of conviction)

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (gen pl)

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (gen pl: of three)

• सत्यसंश्रयः: one who relies on truth
• सत्यसंश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यसंश्रय (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + संश्रय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (nom sg)

• उपेक्षे: I overlook / disregard
• उपेक्षे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (I disregard/overlook)

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper noun, acc sg)

• प्रविशन्तीम्: entering
• प्रविशन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle: entering)

• हुताशनम्: the fire
• हुताशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक; हुत + अशन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc sg)

Context

"It could not be possible for the evil- minded Rakshasa to access or lay thoughts on Mythili who was glowing like flames of fire."

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Hutāśana (Agni/fire)
• Three worlds (trailokya)

FAQs

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

Satya in public life may require demonstrable proof; dharma for leaders involves acting so that righteousness becomes credible to society, not merely asserted.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains that he permitted the fire-ordeal to remove doubt and establish certainty for all realms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya-niṣṭhā (grounding in truth) and willingness to bear personal pain for public moral clarity.