Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 121, Shloka 14

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

बालिशोखलुकामात्मारामोदशरथात्मजः ।इतिवक्ष्यन्तिमांसन्तोजानकीमविशोध्यहि ।।।।

Transliteration

bāliśo khalu kāmātmā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ |

iti vakṣyanti māṁ santaḥ jānakīm aviśodhya hi ||

Translation

‘Rāma, Daśaratha’s son, is surely foolish—ruled by desire’: thus, people would speak of me, if I were to accept Jānakī without testing her purity.

Word by Word

• बालिशः: foolish
• बालिशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बालिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; राम इति विशेषणम्

• खलु: surely
• खलु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), निश्चयार्थ (surely/indeed)

• कामात्मा: lustful by nature
• कामात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: कामः आत्मा यस्य (whose nature is desire)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता; quoted subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दशरथात्मजः: son of Dasharatha
• दशरथात्मजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ-आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): दशरथस्य आत्मजः (son of Dasharatha)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपातः (quotative particle)

• वक्ष्यन्ति: will say
• वक्ष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सन्तः: good people
• सन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; 'good people'

• जानकीम्: Janaki (Sita)
• जानकीम्: Karma (कर्म; object of aviśodhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अविशोध्य: without testing
• अविशोध्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ+वि+शुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः (ल्यप्; gerund/absolutive), अव्ययवत्; नञ्-पूर्वकः: अविशोध्य = 'without testing/purifying'

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), बलार्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed)

Context

"I also know that Mythili is ever coming around me with undivided love and is devoted to me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Jānakī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

For a ruler, dharma includes guarding public trust: personal affection cannot override the need to remove doubt and uphold moral legitimacy.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma anticipates criticism that he would be desire-driven if he accepted Sītā without a public vindication.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (propriety) and accountability—Rāma prioritizes ethical governance over personal impulse.