Shloka 21

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

अवश्यं च मयाकार्यंसर्वेषांवोवचोहितम् ।स्निग्धानांलोकनाधानामेवं च वदतांहितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

avaśyaṁ ca mayā kāryaṁ sarveṣāṁ vo vaco hitam |

snigdhānāṁ lokanāthānām evaṁ ca vadatāṁ hitam ||

Translation

Und gewiss muss ich nach euren heilsamen Worten handeln — Worten, zum Wohl gesprochen — von euch, den Zuneigenden, Weltherrschern, die der Achtung der Welt würdig sind.

Word by Word

• अवश्यम्: certainly
• अवश्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (certainly/necessarily)

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr sg: by me)

• कार्यम्: a duty / what must be done
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-नाम (that which must be done)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (gen pl: of all)

• वः: of you (all)
• वः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (gen pl: of you)

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (कर्म) (speech/words)

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा (धातु) + क्त, ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (beneficial)

• स्निग्धानाम्: of affectionate (friends)
• स्निग्धानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √स्निह् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (of affectionate ones)

• लोकनाथानाम्: of the world-leaders
• लोकनाथानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकनाथ (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + नाथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lords of the world)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/in this way)

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• वदताम्: of those who speak
• वदताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle used substantively: of those speaking)

• हितम्: good (advice)
• हितम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate: good/benefit)

Context

"When she was lonely, piteous, having no control, Rakshasa Ravana, who was proud of his valour abducted her from the forest when no one was there."

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Assembly (implicit)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humility before wise counsel: a righteous leader treats well-meant advice as an obligation toward collective welfare, not as a personal affront.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to the gathered well-wishers/authorities, acknowledging their counsel as beneficial and committing to act accordingly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s receptivity to guidance and prioritization of loka-hita (public good) alongside personal conviction.