Shloka 28

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

यद्यत्फलं प्रार्थयते पुष्पं वा जनकात्मजा।तत्तत्प्रदद्या वैदेह्या यत्राऽस्या रमते मनः।।।।

Transliteration

yad yat phalaṁ prārthayate puṣpaṁ vā janakātmajā | tat tat pradadyā vaidehyā yatrā 'syā ramate manaḥ ||

Translation

Welche Frucht oder Blume auch immer Janakas Tochter erbitten mag, gib sie ihr; gewähre Vaidehī alles, woran ihr Herz Freude findet.

Word by Word

• गच्छतोः: of the two going
• गच्छतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle); षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Genitive dual) — ‘of the two who were going’

• अस्तु: indeed
• अस्तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय; पदपूरण/निपातवत् (expletive/particle-like ‘indeed’)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• बभूव: was/became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जनक-आत्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sītā)
• जनक-आत्मजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मातङ्गयोः: of two elephants
• मातङ्गयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्य-गता: situated in the middle
• मध्य-गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य + गत (गम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मध्ये गता = gone/placed in the middle)

• शुभा: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying जनकात्मजा)

• नाग-वधूः: a female elephant
• नाग-वधूः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नागस्य वधूः = elephant-bride/female elephant)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (particle of comparison: like/as)

Context

Whatever fruit or flower the daughter of Janaka asks for, get it. Whatever pleases her mind give it.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Vaidehi
• Janaka
• Lakshmana
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma as considerate care: honoring Sītā’s wishes and wellbeing reflects righteous conduct rooted in empathy and respectful service within relationships.

What is the narrative situation?

As they travel through the forest, Rama instructs Lakṣmaṇa to fetch fruits and flowers that Sītā desires, making the difficult journey gentler for her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s tenderness and attentiveness to Sītā’s happiness, and Lakṣmaṇa’s readiness to serve.