Shloka 11

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

ततःप्रीतिमानारामःश्रुत्यैवंवदतांवरः ।दध्यौमुहूर्तंधर्मात्माबाष्पव्याकुललोचनः ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prītimān rāmaḥ śrutvaivam vadatāṁ varaḥ |

dadhyau muhūrtaṁ dharmātmā bāṣpa-vyākula-locanaḥ ||

Translation

Da freute sich der rechtschaffene Rāma, der Beste unter den Rednern, als er diese Worte hörte; doch mit tränengetrübten Augen sann er einen Augenblick nach.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/क्रमवाचक-अव्ययम् (then/thereupon)

• प्रीतिमान्: joyful
• प्रीतिमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessing joy)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त्वा; absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत्; 'having heard'

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (manner adverb)

• वदताम्: of the speakers
• वदताम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः (शतृ; present active participle) → वदत्; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), बहुवचनम्; 'of those speaking'

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दध्यौ: pondered
• दध्यौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: धर्मः आत्मा यस्य (whose nature is dharma)

• बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः: with tear-filled eyes
• बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प-व्याकुल-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: बाष्पेण व्याकुलानि लोचनानि यस्य (eyes troubled with tears)

Context

Rama who is endowed with valour and firmness, and an upholder of dharma, a supreme person said to Brahma.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma includes sober reflection before decisive speech or action—especially when public trust, justice, and personal emotion collide.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing the divine testimony around Sītā’s ordeal, Rāma pauses, moved to tears, and considers his response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-restraint and moral deliberation (dharma-guided composure) despite intense emotion.