Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 23

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

दीक्षितं व्रतसम्पन्नं वराजिनधरं शुचिम्।कुरङ्गशृङ्गपाणिं च पश्यन्ती त्वां भजाम्यहम्।।।।

Transliteration

dīkṣitaṁ vratasampannaṁ varājinadharaṁ śucim |

kuraṅgaśṛṅgapāṇiṁ ca paśyantī tvāṁ bhajāmy aham || 2.16.23 ||

Translation

«Me alegraré al verte consagrado: firme en tus votos, puro, vestido con fina piel de ciervo y con el cuerno del antílope en tu mano.»

Word by Word

• dīkṣitam: initiated/consecrated
• dīkṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dīkṣ (दीक्ष्) (धातु)
• Form: Kta past participle, Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies tvām

• vrata-sampannam: observant of vows
• vrata-sampannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (√pad + sam-; क्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: vratena sampannaḥ (endowed with vows)

• varājina-dharam: wearing fine deerskin
• varājina-dharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: varam ajinam dharati iti (wearing excellent deerskin)

• śucim: pure
• śucim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies tvām

• kuraṅga-śṛṅga-pāṇim: having an antelope-horn in hand
• kuraṅga-śṛṅga-pāṇim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuraṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: kuraṅgasya śṛṅgam (antelope-horn) + pāṇiḥ (in hand)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• paśyantī: seeing
• paśyantī: Karta (कर्ता) (participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश्) (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Strīliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; subject = aham (Sītā)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• bhajāmi: I adore/serve
• bhajāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (भज्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ Present, Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa Ekavacana

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā Ekavacana

Context

I shall be delighted to see you initiated and engaged in the observance of the vow made pure, wearing excellent deerskin and carrying the horns of an antelope in your hand.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• ajina (deer-skin)
• dīkṣā (initiation/consecration)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as self-restraint and ritual integrity: true authority is linked to vows, purity, and disciplined observance rather than luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues her auspicious speech, picturing Rāma in the formal signs of consecration—vowed, purified, and bearing ritual items.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s anticipated vrataniṣṭhā (steadfastness in vows) and śauca (purity), and Sītā’s reverent admiration for dharmic kingship.