Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.39 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 39

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

महायज्ञे तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना।दत्तं धनुर्वरं प्रीत्या तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ।।2.118.39।।

Transliteration

mahāyajñe tadā tasya varuṇena mahātmanā | dattaṁ dhanur-varaṁ prītyā tūṇī cākṣaya-sāyakau || 2.118.39 ||

Translation

Damals, bei seinem großen Yajña, schenkte ihm der großherzige Varuṇa aus Wohlgefallen einen erlesenen Bogen, dazu Köcher und zwei unerschöpfliche Pfeile.

Word by Word

• महायज्ञे: in a great sacrifice
• महायज्ञे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समास: महा + यज्ञ

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तस्य: to him / for him
• तस्य: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वरुणेन: by Varuṇa
• वरुणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• महात्मना: by the great-souled
• महात्मना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण वरुणेन; समास: महा + आत्मन्

• दत्तम्: was given
• दत्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (given)

• धनुःवरम्: an excellent bow
• धनुःवरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुःवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: धनुः + वर (excellent bow)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तूणी: two quivers
• तूणी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Dual)

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

• अक्षयसायकौ: two inexhaustible arrows
• अक्षयसायकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षयसायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समास: अक्षय + सायक (inexhaustible arrows)

Context

Magnanimous Varuna out of his affection had given him, on the occasion of a great sacrifice, an excellent bow with inexhaustible arrows and a pair of quivers.

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Janaka
• quivers (tūṇī)

FAQs

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

Ritual merit and righteous conduct attract divine support; sacred gifts become instruments for upholding dharma (later used to test worth in the svayaṁvara context).

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā notes the origin of a powerful bow and weapons given to Janaka by Varuṇa during a great sacrifice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s ritual righteousness and Varuṇa’s benevolence—divine aid aligned with dharmic kingship.