Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.52 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 52

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

तत श्श्वशुरमामन्त्र्य वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्।मम पित्रा त्वहं दत्ता रामाय विदितात्मने।।2.118.52।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śvaśuram āmantrya vṛddhaṁ daśarathaṁ nṛpam | mama pitrā tv ahaṁ dattā rāmāya viditātmane || 2.118.52 ||

Translation

Dann, nachdem mein Schwiegervater, der betagte König Daśaratha, eingeladen worden war, gab mich mein Vater dem Rāma, dessen klare Einsicht weithin bekannt ist.

Word by Word

• dīyamānām: (me) being given
• dīyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्), Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with implied ‘kanyāṃ/striyam’ (Sītā speaking)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Concessive/contrast particle (विरोध/अन्वय-निपात)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• pratijagrāha: accepted
• pratijagrāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√grah (ग्रह्) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• avijñāya: without knowing
• avijñāya: Kriya (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla/hetu nuance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-vi-√jñā (ज्ञा) (धातu)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), with privative a-: ‘without knowing’

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• chandam: wish/consent
• chandam: Karma (कर्म) (object of avijñāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• ayodhyā-adhipateḥ: of the lord/king of Ayodhya
• ayodhyā-adhipateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (तत्पुरुष): ayodhyāyāḥ adhipatiḥ; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• prabhoḥ: of the lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular; apposition to ayodhyā-adhipateḥ

Context

When departing for this frightful and desolate forest, the great (advice) imparted by my mother-in-law is firmly fixed in my mind.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Janaka (implied)
• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in marriage-making includes due honor to elders and procedural correctness—inviting the father-in-law and formalizing the gift properly.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains that Janaka invited Daśaratha and then formally gave her to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for social-religious order—elders are consulted and honored; the marriage is concluded with propriety.