Shloka 21

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

चीरे गृहीते तु तया समीक्ष्य नृपतेर्गुरुः।निवार्य सीतां कैकेयीं वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.37.21।।

Transliteration

cīre gṛhīte tu tayā samīkṣya nṛpater guruḥ | nivārya sītāṁ kaikeyīṁ vasiṣṭho vākyam abravīt || 2.37.21 ||

Translation

Als er sah, dass sie das Rindenkleid ergriffen hatte, hielt Vasiṣṭha, der königliche Lehrer, Sītā zurück und sprach Kaikeyī diese Worte.

Word by Word

• चीरे: in/with the bark garment
• चीरे: अधिकरण (locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गृहीते: having been taken/worn
• गृहीते: अधिकरण-विशेषण (locative absolute sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; चीरे-विशेषणम्; लोके ‘when it was taken/worn’

• तु: but/then
• तु: सम्बन्धक-निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/transition)

• तया: by her
• तया: कर्ता (agent in locative-absolute context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• समीक्ष्य: having seen
• समीक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having seen/observed’

• नृपतेः: of the king
• नृपतेः: सम्बन्ध (genitive with गुरुḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गुरुः: preceptor
• गुरुः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निवार्य: having restrained
• निवार्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having restrained’

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: कर्म (object of निवार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: सम्प्रदान/प्रति (addressee of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वसिष्ठः: Vasistha
• वसिष्ठः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुरुḥ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्

• वाक्यम्: words, speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (object of अब्रवीत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

When Sita wore the bark garments, Vasistha, the king's preceptor who was watching this restrained her (Sita) and said to Kaikeyi:

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Vasistha
• Kaikeyi
• king (Dasharatha)
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes guidance and correction by rightful authority: the royal guru intervenes to regulate what is proper and to question excess or impropriety in Kaikeyi’s demands.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sita accepts the bark garment, Vasistha steps in, restrains Sita, and turns to address Kaikeyi.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guru-dharma (responsible counsel): Vasistha acts as moral guardian of the royal household and its righteous boundaries.