Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 37

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

अयोनिजां हि मां ज्ञात्वा नाध्यगच्छद्विचिन्तयन्।सदृशं चानुरूपं च महीपालः पतिं मम।।2.118.37।।

Transliteration

ayonijāṁ hi māṁ jñātvā nādhyagacchad vicintayan | sadṛśaṁ cānurūpaṁ ca mahīpālaḥ patiṁ mama || 2.118.37 ||

Translation

মই অয়োনিজা (গৰ্ভজন্ম নহয়) বুলি জানি, পৃথিৱীপাল ৰজাই বহু চিন্তা কৰিলেও মোৰ বাবে সমান আৰু সম্পূৰ্ণ অনুৰূপ স্বামী বিচাৰি নাপালে।

Word by Word

• अयोनिजाम्: not womb-born
• अयोनिजाम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-योनिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of माम्

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Gerund)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अध्यगच्छत्: found/obtained
• अध्यगच्छत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विचिन्तयन्: thinking over
• विचिन्तयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with महीपालः

• सदृशम्: equal
• सदृशम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object-complement qualifier of पतिम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• अनुरूपम्: suitable
• अनुरूपम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifier of पतिम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• महीपालः: the king
• महीपालः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (protector of earth), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: for me/of me
• मम: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

The ruler of the earth knew that I was not born from a woman's womb, and could not find a suitable husband for me after deep reflection.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma in marriage demands appropriateness (anurūpa) and equality (sadṛśa), not merely arranging a match for appearance’s sake.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka struggles to identify a groom worthy of Sītā’s extraordinary origin and nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and integrity in guardianship: Janaka refuses an unworthy or mismatched alliance.