Shloka 21

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā

Public Opinion and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

तदर्थंनिर्जितामेत्वंयशःप्रत्याहृतंमया ।नास्तिमेत्यय्यभिष्वङ्गोयथेष्टंगम्यतामितः ।।6.118.21।।

Transliteration

tad-arthaṃ nirjitā me tvaṃ yaśaḥ pratyāhṛtaṃ mayā |

nāsti me tvayy abhiṣvaṅgo yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatām itaḥ ||6.118.21||

Translation

Nur zu diesem Zweck habe ich dich zurückgewonnen und meine Ehre wiedererlangt. Jetzt habe ich keine Bindung mehr an dich—geh von hier, wohin du willst.

Word by Word

• tad-artham: for that purpose
• tad-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) compound used adverbially; accusative-form functioning as indeclinable: 'for that purpose'

• nirjitām: conquered/overcome (i.e., vindicated)
• nirjitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√ji (धातु) + nirjita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies tvām

• etvam: you (indeed)
• etvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन); emphatic 'this you' (tvām implied)

• yaśaḥ: fame, honor
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratyāhṛtam: won back, regained
• pratyāhṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-ā-√hṛ (धातु) + pratyāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yaśaḥ

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental/Tṛtīyā (3), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Present/Laṭ (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive/Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvayi: in/for you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhiṣvaṅgaḥ: attachment, affection
• abhiṣvaṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiṣvaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā-iṣṭam: as you wish
• yathā-iṣṭam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) adverbial compound: 'as desired'

• gamyatām: let (her/you) go
• gamyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/Loṭ (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive-style injunction 'let (her) go'

• itaḥ: from here
• itaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place/source

Context

"You are thrown out of the arms of Ravana. You have been seen by him with lustful eyes, have been seen by all with evil eyes. How can one born in a great race accept you again?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• yaśas (honor)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as restoration of honor and removal of blame; the personal relationship is subordinated to what Rāma claims is the moral-political necessity of reputation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma states that the rescue served to restore his honor, and he dismisses Sītā publicly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austere commitment to an ideal of kingship, even at the cost of personal affection.