Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 17

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

Setting: अयोध्या (Ayodhyā)Places named: वन (forest)Immediate pre-departure; Sītā ready to set out for forest

Devanagari script

सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम् ।

भूषयामास गात्राणि तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.17

Transliteration

sā sujātā sujātāni vaidehī prasthitā vanam |

bhūṣayāmāsa gātrāṇi tair vicitrair vibhūṣaṇaiḥ ||17||

Translation

Vaidehī, de noble naissance et prête à partir pour la forêt, para ses gracieux membres de ces parures diverses et étincelantes.

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Word by Word

• सा: she
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• सुजाता: well-born
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुजाता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (well-born)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सुजातानि: beautiful/well-formed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; गात्राणि इति विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

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

• प्रस्थिता: set out/ready to depart
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (ready/setting out)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वनम्: to the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• भूषयामास: adorned
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (intensive/periphrastic perfect usage in epic)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• गात्राणि: limbs
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तैः: with those
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विभूषणैः इति विशेषण (those)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• विचित्रैः: variegated/sparkling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विभूषणैः इति विशेषण
• Role: Karana (करण)

• विभूषणैः: ornaments
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

Sandhi Notes

• तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः = तैः + विचित्रैः + विभूषणैः (visarga sandhi to r)

Context

That princess of noble birth from Videha adorned her beautiful limbs with the sparkling ornaments and got ready to depart for the forest.

The teaching

Duties in tension

• वनवासी-धर्म: सादगी/तप
• राजवधू-धर्म: मर्यादा, शृङ्गार, कुल-प्रतिष्ठा
• पतिव्रता-धर्म: पति के साथ वनगमन

Ethical theme

स्त्रीधर्म / सहधर्मचारिणी-धर्म

How it resolves

Prioritization of spousal-dharma while retaining dignity

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Resolute, radiant, poignant

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Pativrata
• Maryada
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī/Maithilī)
• forest
• ornaments

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in chosen duty: Sītā prepares to share her husband’s fate, embodying commitment to truth and marital dharma even as exile approaches.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā receives valuables from the treasury and readies herself physically for departure to the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s resolve and composure—readiness to face hardship without abandoning her dharmic choice.