Shloka 1.73.26

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha—Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

ततस्सीतां समानीय सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्।।1.73.25।।समक्षमग्ने स्संस्थाप्य राघवाभिमुखे तदा।अब्रवीज्जनको राजा कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम्।।1.73.26।।

Transliteration

iyaṃ sītā mama sutā sahadharmacārī tava |

pratīccha caināṃ bhadraṃ te pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva pāṇinā || 1.73.27 ||

Translation

“This is Sītā, my daughter—she shall be your companion in dharma. Receive her; may auspiciousness be yours. Take her hand with your hand.”

Context

Thereafter king Janaka brought Sita adorned with various ornaments and placed her in the presence of Agni in front of Rama, the enhancer of the joy of Kausalya. And said:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Pāṇigrahaṇa (hand-taking)

FAQs

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

Marriage is defined as shared dharma (sahadharmacāriṇī): the union is oriented toward righteous living, duty, and truth, not merely personal desire.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka performs the formal hand-giving/hand-taking instruction to Rāma, marking the decisive moment of kanyādāna and pāṇigrahaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s integrity and clarity of values—he frames Sītā’s role as a dharmic partner and blesses Rāma with auspiciousness.