Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 18

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत्सुविभूषिता।उद्यतोंऽशुमतः काले खं प्रभेव विवस्वतः।।2.39.18।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.18

Transliteration

vyarājayata vaidehī veśma tat suvibhūṣitā | udyatoṃśumataḥ kāle khaṃ prabheva vivasvataḥ || 2.39.18 ||

Translation

Vaidehī, ricamente engalanada, hizo resplandecer aquel palacio—como el cielo al alba, iluminado por el fulgor del sol naciente.

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Word by Word

• व्यराजयत्: made shine/illumined
• व्यराजयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; सकर्मक (made shine/illuminated)

• वैदेही: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेश्म: palace/house
• वेश्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वेश्म इति विशेषण

• सुविभूषिता: well-adorned
• सुविभूषिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + वि + भूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वैदेही इति विशेषण

• उद्यतः: rising
• उद्यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + या/स्था (प्रातिपदिक उद्यत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विवस्वतः इति विशेषण (rising)

• अंशुमतः: of the radiant (sun)
• अंशुमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विवस्वतः इत्यस्य विशेषण (of the radiant one)

• काले: at the time (dawn)
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समयाधिकरण (time-locative)

• खम्: sky
• खम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object compared)

• प्रभा: light/splendour
• प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमेय (that which is compared)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• विवस्वतः: of the Sun
• विवस्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

Well-adorned Sita illumined the palace like the rising Sun lighting up the sky at dawn.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• palace (Ayodhyā palace)
• Sun (Vivasvat)
• sky

FAQs

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

Inner purity and steadfast dharma are portrayed as radiance: Sītā’s moral stature is mirrored outwardly as light and auspicious beauty, even on the brink of hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

As Sītā prepares for exile, the narrator describes her splendor in the palace through a dawn-and-sun simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s auspicious presence and dignified composure—radiance that arises from character, not comfort.