Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 20

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

तासामेवंविधा वाच शृण्वन् दशरथात्मजः।बबन्धैव तदा चीरं सीतया तुल्यशीलया।।2.37.20।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.37.20

Transliteration

tāsām evaṁvidhā vācaḥ śṛṇvan daśarathātmajaḥ | babandhaiva tadā cīraṁ sītayā tulyaśīlayā || 2.37.20 ||

Translation

Obwohl er solche Worte von ihnen vernahm, band Daśarathas Sohn damals Sītā—ihm an Charakter ebenbürtig—das Rindenkleid um.

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Word by Word

• तासाम्: of them
• तासाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of those women)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• एवंविधाः: such, of this kind
• एवंविधाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of ‘words’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवं + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (एवं विधाः) वाचः-विशेषणम्

• वाचः: words
• वाचः: कर्म (object of शृण्वन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शृण्वन्: listening
• शृण्वन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (while listening)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दशरथात्मजः-विशेषणम्

• दशरथात्मजः: son of Dasharatha
• दशरथात्मजः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (दशरथस्य आत्मजः)

• बबन्ध: fastened
• बबन्ध: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis ‘indeed/just’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण-विशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• चीरम्: bark garment
• चीरम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सीतया: for/with Sita
• सीतया: करण/सहकारक (instrumental: with/for Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तुल्यशीलया: of similar character
• तुल्यशीलया: करण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (तुल्यं शीलं यस्याः) सीतया-विशेषणम्

Context

While Rama was listening to such words uttered by them, he got the bark robes fastened round Sita who was of similar nature.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Dasharatha
• Sita
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through unwavering resolve: Rama proceeds with the chosen course, recognizing Sita’s equal commitment to the same righteous path.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite the women’s emotional appeals, Rama continues and completes the act of dressing Sita for forest life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāmya (equality in virtue) between Rama and Sita—mutual steadfastness and shared moral disposition.