Shloka 18

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

न हिशक्तःसुदुष्टात्मामनसापिहिमैथिलीम् ।प्रधर्षयितुमप्राप्यांदीप्तामग्निशिखामिव ।।।।

Transliteration

na hi śaktaḥ suduṣṭātmā manasāpi hi maithilīm |

pradharṣayitum aprāpyāṁ dīptām agni-śikhām iva ||

Translation

Jener von überaus verderbter Seele vermochte nicht—nicht einmal im Gedanken—Maithilī zu schänden, die unerreichbar ist, lodernd wie eine Feuerzunge.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (indeed/for)

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शक् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (able)

• सुदुष्टात्मा: the evil-minded one
• सुदुष्टात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदुष्टात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; सु + दुष्ट + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे कर्मधारय-समास (evil-minded person)

• मनसा: by mind / in thought
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (instr sg)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

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

• प्रधर्षयितुम्: to violate / outrage
• प्रधर्षयितुम्: Purpose (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √धृष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive); अर्थः: ‘to violate/assault’

• अप्राप्याम्: unattainable
• अप्राप्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्राप्य (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + प्राप्य, √आप्/√प्राप् + य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (unattainable/inaccessible)

• दीप्ताम्: blazing
• दीप्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √दीप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (glowing)

• अग्निशिखाम्: a flame of fire
• अग्निशिखाम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निशिखा (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि + शिखा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (flame of fire)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-निपात

Context

" Auspicious Sita would not have cared for the fortunes in the gynaeceum of Ravana. She is just like the radiance of the sun attached to the sun, attached to me and none other."

Characters & Entities

• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as the wicked one)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as inviolability: true purity is not merely physical but also beyond the reach of corrupt intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma stresses that Rāvaṇa could not truly access Sītā, comparing her untouchability to a blazing flame.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unassailable chastity and spiritual radiance.