Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

अभिषेको यथा सज्जः किमिदानीमिदं तव।अपूर्वो मुखवर्णश्च न प्रहर्षश्च लक्ष्यते।।।।

Transliteration

abhiṣeko yathā sajjaḥ kim idānīm idaṃ tava | apūrvo mukhavarṇaś ca na praharṣaś ca lakṣyate ||

Translation

Wenn die Weihe schon bereitet ist, warum bist du jetzt so? Dein Antlitz zeigt eine ungewohnte Blässe, und keine Freude ist zu erkennen.

Word by Word

• अभिषेकः: consecration
• अभिषेकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Comparative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative/conj. 'as')

• सज्जः: ready/arranged
• सज्जः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• किम्: why?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रश्न (interrogative particle)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (context: predicate/this matter)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपूर्वः: unprecedented/unusual
• अपूर्वः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुख-वर्णः: facial complexion
• मुख-वर्णः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुखस्य वर्णः = complexion of the face); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• प्रहर्षः: joy/delight
• प्रहर्षः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लक्ष्यते: is seen
• लक्ष्यते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Context

How is it that when arrangements are under way now for your consecration, the complexion of your countenance does not look like what it was before? There is no joy on your face.

Characters & Entities

• consecration (abhiṣeka)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthfulness in relationships: Sītā seeks the real cause behind the outward disruption, urging clarity rather than concealment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā notes Rāma’s changed expression and lack of happiness despite coronation preparations, prompting her to question what has happened.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate concern and honesty-seeking: Sītā reads Rāma’s distress and presses for the truth.