Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 4

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

किं पुनर्यो गुणश्लाघ्य स्सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः।स्थिरानुरागो धर्मात्मा मातृवत्पितृवत्प्रियः।।2.118.4।।

Transliteration

kiṁ punar yo guṇa-ślāghyaḥ sānukrośo jitendriyaḥ | sthirānurāgo dharmātmā mātṛvat pitṛvat priyaḥ || 2.118.4 ||

Translation

Combien plus encore si l’époux est louable par ses vertus : compatissant, maître de ses sens, constant dans son attachement, juste de nature, et cher comme une mère et comme un père.

Word by Word

• kim: how much more
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक/उत्कर्षार्थक अव्यय (idiom: 'how much more')

• punaḥ: moreover
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्यवाचक अव्यय (again/further; here: moreover)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• guṇaślāghyaḥ: praiseworthy for virtues
• guṇaślāghyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + ślāghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'praiseworthy for virtues'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• sānukrośaḥ: compassionate
• sānukrośaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-anukrośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• jitendriyaḥ: self-controlled
• jitendriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (√ji, कृदन्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive: 'one whose senses are conquered'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• sthirānurāgaḥ: steadfastly affectionate
• sthirānurāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira + anurāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'steady affection'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive: 'whose nature/soul is dharma'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• mātṛvat: like a mother
• mātṛvat: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mātṛ + vat (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (comparative adverb: like a mother)

• pitṛvat: like a father
• pitṛvat: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pitṛ + vat (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (comparative adverb: like a father)

• priyaḥ: dear
• priyaḥ: Pradhana (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); यः इति विधेय (predicate: dear)

Context

What to speak of a husband if he is worthy of applause for his virtues, is compassionate, a subduer of the senses, righteous and ever affectionate like a mother and a father?

Characters & Entities

• dharma (principle)

FAQs

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

Dharma in household life is grounded in character: compassion, self-mastery, steadfast love, and protective care that mirrors parental responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā articulates the virtues that make a spouse truly worthy, framing marriage as an ethical partnership.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jitendriyatva (self-control) and dayā (compassion), integrated with dharmic steadiness in relationships.