Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 13

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

कृत्वा कण्ठे च सा चीरमेकमादाय पाणिना।तस्थौ ह्यकुशला तत्र व्रीडिता जनकात्मजा।।2.37.13।।

Transliteration

kṛtvā kaṇṭhe ca sā cīram ekam ādāya pāṇinā | tasthau hy akuśalā tatra vrīḍitā janakātmajā || 2.37.13 ||

Translation

Sītā, Janakas Tochter, legte ein Ende des Rindengewandes an ihren Hals und hielt das andere mit der Hand; ungewohnt in solcher Tracht, stand sie dort beschämt und unschlüssig, was als Nächstes zu tun sei.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having placed
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), "having done/placed"

• कण्ठे: on the neck
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चीरम्: bark-garment/cloth
• चीरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), "having taken/holding"

• पाणिना: with the hand
• पाणिना: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; indeed/for)

• अकुशला: unaccustomed/uneasy
• अकुशला: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक)

• व्रीडिता: ashamed
• व्रीडिता: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रीडित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (past participial adjective: "ashamed")

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sita)
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक-आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनकस्य आत्मजा)

Context

Rama, foremost among protectors of righteousness, came forward quickly and fastened the bark himself over her silk garment.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Janaka
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights dignified acceptance of hardship: Sita attempts to adopt ascetic signs despite being untrained, showing commitment to righteous companionship.

What is the narrative situation?

Sita is being given bark garments for forest life; she is unfamiliar with how to wear them and pauses in modest embarrassment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lajjā (modesty) and resolve—Sita’s modest demeanor alongside her readiness to share Rama’s dharmic path.