Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 6

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

सकृद्दृष्टास्वपि स्त्रिषु नृपेण नृपवत्सलः।मातृवद्वर्तते वीरो मानमुत्सृज्य धर्मवित्।।2.118.6।।

Transliteration

sakṛd dṛṣṭāsv api strīṣu nṛpeṇa nṛpa-vatsalaḥ | mātṛ-vad vartate vīro mānam utsṛjya dharma-vit || 2.118.6 ||

Translation

Selbst Frauen, die der König nur ein einziges Mal erblickt hatte, begegnet der heldenhafte Rāma—dem König zugetan und der Dharma kundig—ohne Hochmut und behandelt sie wie eine Mutter.

Word by Word

• sakṛt: once
• sakṛt: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/परिमाणवाचक अव्यय (once)

• dṛṣṭāsu: in (women) seen
• dṛṣṭāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त (kta), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (plural); स्त्रिषु इति विशेषणम् (in women who have been seen)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारार्थक अव्यय (even)

• striṣu: among women
• striṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन (plural)

• nṛpeṇa: by the king
• nṛpeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• nṛpavatsalaḥ: devoted to the king
• nṛpavatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛpa + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'affectionate to the king'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); वीरः इति विशेषणम्

• mātṛvat: like a mother
• mātṛvat: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mātṛ + vat (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (like a mother)

• vartate: behaves
• vartate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• vīraḥ: the hero (Rama)
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• mānam: pride
• mānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• utsṛjya: having set aside
• utsṛjya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-√sṛj (धातु) → utsṛjya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having abandoned'

• dharmavit: knower of righteousness
• dharmavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'knower of dharma'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); वीरः इति विशेषणम्

Context

Then, my father steadfast in truth, held a vessel of pure water and declared his decision to offer me to Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• the king (Daśaratha implied)

FAQs

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

True dharma includes humility: one should renounce ego and uphold respectful conduct toward elders and family, honoring relationships sanctioned by duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā praises Rāma’s disciplined behavior in the royal household while speaking with Anasūyā in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility joined with propriety—Rāma’s ability to subordinate personal pride to righteous social and familial obligations.