Shloka 26

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

यथामांशुद्धचरितांदुष्टांजानातिराघवः ।तथालोकस्यसाक्षीमांसर्वतःपातुपावकः ।।।।

Transliteration

yathā māṃ śuddhacaritāṃ duṣṭāṃ jānāti rāghavaḥ | tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ || 6.119.26 ||

Translation

Wenn Rāghava mich als lauter im Wandel und unbefleckt erkennt, so möge Pāvaka—Zeuge der Welt—mich überall beschützen.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• शुद्धचरिताम्: of pure conduct
• शुद्धचरिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (कृदन्त, √चर्)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (शुद्धं चरितं यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• दुष्टाम्: wicked/tainted
• दुष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त √दुष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• जानाति: knows/considers
• जानाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: एवम्-अर्थक अव्यय (so)

• लोकस्य: of the world
• लोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (everywhere)

• पातु: may protect
• पातु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पावकः: Fire (Agni)
• पावकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Context

"If in Rama's view, I am of impeccable conduct and so also if what he is seeing is not known to be true, let the world witness and fire god protect me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Pāvaka/Agni

FAQs

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

Moral character (ācāra) is central to dharma: Sītā frames the ordeal as a confirmation of śuddha-caritra (purity of conduct) under the gaze of the world and Agni.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues her oath, asserting her unimpeachable conduct and seeking divine protection as proof.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity of conduct—purity not only claimed but offered for public verification.