Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

तस्यास्तत्क्षिप्रमागम्य रामो धर्मभृतां वरः।चीरं बबन्ध सीतायाः कौशेयस्योपरि स्वयम्।।2.37.14।।

Transliteration

tasyās tatkṣipram āgamya rāmo dharmabhṛtāṁ varaḥ | cīraṁ babandha sītāyāḥ kauśeyasyopari svayam || 2.37.14 ||

Translation

Da kam Rāma, der Vornehmste unter den Trägern des Dharma, eilends zu ihr und band selbst Sītā das Rindengewand über ihrem Seidenkleid fest.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her (Sita)
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (object-determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (चीरम् इति)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आगम्य: having come/approached
• आगम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having come/approached’

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धर्मभृताम्: of the upholders of righteousness
• धर्मभृताम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive dependent of वरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; भृत् from √भृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मं बिभ्रतीति/धर्मं धारयन्ति)

• वरः: the best, foremost
• वरः: कर्ता-सम्बन्धी विशेषण/उपपद (predicate nominative to रामः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः’

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

• बबन्ध: fastened, tied on
• बबन्ध: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• कौशेयस्य: of the silk garment
• कौशेयस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of the silk garment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘silk cloth’

• उपरि: upon, over
• उपरि: अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात/अव्यय; ‘upon/over’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: कर्ता-विशेषण (emphatic modifier of subject)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः कर्तृत्व-प्रदर्शक (emphatic ‘himself’)

Context

Beholding Rama fastening the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartment shed tears from their eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as protective care within righteousness: Rama helps Sita directly, ensuring her transition to forest-dharma is done with respect and responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing Sita uncertain with the bark-cloth, Rama steps forward and ties it for her over her silk clothing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and maryādā (propriety): Rama’s attentive, dignified assistance to Sita.