Shloka 11

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā

Public Opinion and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

पश्यतस्तांतुरामस्यसमीपेहृदयप्रियाम् ।जनवादभयाद्राज्ञोबभूवहृदयंद्विधा ।।6.118.11।।

Transliteration

paśyatas tāṃ tu rāmasya samīpe hṛdaya-priyām | jana-vāda-bhayād rājño babhūva hṛdayaṃ dvidhā ||

Translation

Während Rāma sie ansah, die seinem Herzen so lieb und so nahe stand, spaltete die Furcht vor dem Gerede der Menschen das Herz des Königs in zwei.

Word by Word

• पश्यतः: while (he) was seeing / of (him) seeing
• पश्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of (Rama) seeing’

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/विरोधसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण/विरोध)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• समीपे: near, in the vicinity
• समीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• हृदयप्रियाम्: dear to (his) heart
• हृदयप्रियाम्: Karma-pradhana-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘dear to the heart’

• जनवादभयात्: from fear of public opinion
• जनवादभयात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनवाद + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘fear of public talk’

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• हृदयम्: heart, mind
• हृदयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्विधा: in two ways, divided
• द्विधा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Context

Rama was already hurt and on seeing Sita who was dear to his heart nearby, he was burning with the fear of public opinion.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: a ruler must consider societal trust and public moral order, even when it causes personal anguish.

What is the narrative situation?

With Sītā near, Rāma’s love conflicts with anxiety about public suspicion and rumor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to accountability—his awareness that kingship is judged by the people’s confidence.