Valmiki Ramayana 1.71.17 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 17

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम्

Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila

Devanagari script

स च मे प्रेषयामास शैवं धनुरनुत्तमम्।सीता कन्या च पद्माक्षी मह्यं वै दीयतामिति।।।।

Transliteration

sa ca me preṣayāmāsa śaivaṃ dhanur anuttamam |

sītā kanyā ca padmākṣī mahyaṃ vai dīyatām iti ||

Translation

Und er sandte mir diese Forderung: »Gebt mir den unvergleichlichen Bogen Śivas; und auch Sītā, das lotosäugige Mädchen, soll mir gegeben werden.«

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive/Dative form (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन) used as 'to me/for me'

• preṣayāmāsa: sent (a message)
• preṣayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √preṣ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; causative sense in usage 'sent/caused to be sent'

• śaivam: of Śiva
• śaivam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective to dhanuḥ

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, excellent
• anuttamam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; superlative adjective to dhanuḥ

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (proper noun), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; quoted request content

• kanyā: maiden
• kanyā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to sītā

• ca: and
• ca: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• padmākṣī: lotus-eyed
• padmākṣī: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya 'lotus-eyed' qualifying sītā

• mahyam: to me
• mahyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• dīyatām: let (her) be given
• dīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, Imperative), Ātmanepada (passive/भावे प्रयोग), 3rd Person, Singular; passive imperative 'let (her) be given'

• iti: thus
• iti: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

Context

He (Sudhanva) sent me a message: 'give me the great bow of Siva and the lotus-eyed maiden Sita'.

Characters & Entities

• Sudhanvā
• Śiva
• Sītā
• Mithilā

FAQs

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

Dharma here involves guarding sacred trust and family honor: a king must not surrender a revered divine heirloom or his daughter to coercion, but uphold rightful procedure and consent.

What is the narrative situation?

Sudhanvā issues an ultimatum to Janaka demanding the Śiva-bow and Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast protection of what is entrusted—both sacred property and the dignity of one’s daughter.