Shloka 15

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

अनन्यहृदयांभक्तांमच्चित्तपरिवर्तिनीम् ।अहमप्यवगच्छामिमैथिलींजनकात्मजाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ananya-hṛdayāṁ bhaktāṁ mac-citta-parivartinīm |

aham apy avagacchāmi maithilīṁ janakātmajām ||

Translation

Auch ich kenne Maithilī, Janakas Tochter: hingebungsvoll, mit ungeteiltem Herzen, deren Sinn sich stets nur mir zuwendet.

Word by Word

• अनन्यहृदयाम्: with undivided heart (wholly devoted)
• अनन्यहृदयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्यहृदय (प्रातिपदिक; अनन्य + हृदय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem acc sg)

• भक्ताम्: devoted
• भक्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• मच्चित्तपरिवर्तिनीम्: whose mind turns toward me / ever intent on me
• मच्चित्तपरिवर्तिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मच्चित्तपरिवर्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक; मत् + चित्त + परिवर्तिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem acc sg)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (1st person pronoun, nom sg)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• अवगच्छामि: I know / understand
• अवगच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (I know/understand)

• मैथिलीम्: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper noun, acc sg)

• जनकात्मजाम्: Janaka's daughter
• जनकात्मजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनकात्मजा (प्रातिपदिक; जनक + आत्मजा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (genitive relation: Janaka's daughter)

Context

"Naturally she is self-effulgent and can protect herself. Will Ravana be able to violate broad eyed Janakijust as the great ocean can't cross the bounds."

Characters & Entities

• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Janaka
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma balances public duty with private truth: Rāma affirms his personal knowledge of Sītā’s fidelity even while addressing societal doubt.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma clarifies that the ordeal was not due to his ignorance of Sītā’s character; he already knows her devotion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s ekāntabhakti (single-minded devotion) and constancy.