Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.29 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 29

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

स मां दृष्ट्वा नरपतिर्मुष्टिविक्षेपतत्परः।पांसुकुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं जनको विस्मितोऽभवत्।।2.118.29।।

Transliteration

sa māṃ dṛṣṭvā narapatir muṣṭivikṣepatatparaḥ | pāṃsukuṇṭhitasarvāṅgīṃ janako vismito 'bhavat ||2.118.29||

Translation

Then King Janaka—intent on scattering fistfuls (of seed)—saw me with my whole body dust-covered, and he was filled with astonishment.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• नरपतिः: the king
• नरपतिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुष्टि-विक्षेप-तत्परः: intent on scattering (seeds) by handfuls
• मुष्टि-विक्षेप-तत्परः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (Determinative: 'intent on fist-throwing/scattering'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of नरपतिः

• पांसु-कुण्ठित-सर्वाङ्गीम्: (me) with all limbs covered with dust
• पांसु-कुण्ठित-सर्वाङ्गीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पांसु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + सर्वाङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/बहुपद-समास (descriptive: 'dust-covered-all-limbed'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of माम्

• जनकः: Janaka
• जनकः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to नरपतिः

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from विस्मि/स्मि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Engaged in sowing fistfuls of seeds, king Janaka found me covered with dust andwas astonished.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Anasūyā
• Janaka

FAQs

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

A dharmic heart responds to the vulnerable: the scene prepares for Janaka’s compassionate acceptance—astonishment becomes the doorway to protective responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā describes the moment Janaka notices her, newly arisen and covered in dust, while he is sowing seed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s attentive awareness and the humane impulse that follows upon encountering the unexpected and helpless.