Shloka 21

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

स विज्ञायततश्छन्दंरामस्याकारसूचितम् ।चितांचकारसौमित्रिर्मतेरामस्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

sa vijñāya tataś chandaṃ rāmasyākārasūcitam | citāṃ cakāra saumitrir mate rāmasya vīryavān || 6.119.21 ||

Translation

Da er Ramas Absicht, die durch seinen Gesichtsausdruck vermittelt wurde, verstand, bereitete der tapfere Saumitri einen Scheiterhaufen auf dem Boden und handelte gemäß Ramas Entscheidung.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having understood’

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (ततः = thereafter/thereupon)

• chandam: intention
• chandam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Neuter; ‘intention/wish’

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular, Masculine

• ākāra-sūcitam: indicated by (his) expression
• ākāra-sūcitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ākāreṇa sūcitam (instrumental sense)

• citām: pyre
• citām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Feminine

• cakāra: made/prepared
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• saumitriḥ: Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitriḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• mate: in the view/opinion
• mate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular, Neuter; ‘in the opinion’

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular, Masculine

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies saumitriḥ

Context

Understanding Rama's indication from his looks, Saumithri started to prepare the earth for pyre.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa)
• citā (pyre)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes duty-bound action (kartavya) and disciplined obedience: Lakṣmaṇa subordinates personal emotion to the perceived command of legitimate authority (Rāma).

What is the narrative situation?

In response to Rāma’s silent संकेत (indication), Lakṣmaṇa begins preparing the pyre—setting the stage for Sītā’s fire-ordeal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s promptness and fidelity to command, even when the task is emotionally painful.