Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.22 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 22

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

प्रतिगृह्य च तत्सीता प्रीतिदानं यशस्विनी।श्लिष्टाञ्जलिपुटा तत्र समुपास्त तपोधनाम्।।2.118.22।।

Transliteration

pratigṛhya ca tat sītā prītidānaṃ yaśasvinī | śliṣṭāñjalipuṭā tatra samupāsta tapodhanām ||2.118.22||

Translation

યશસ્વિની સીતા એ પ્રેમભર્યું દાન સ્વીકારી, પછી અંજલિબંધ હાથ જોડીને ત્યાં તપોધન તપસ્વિની સ્ત્રીની નજીક ઉપસ્થિત રહી.

Word by Word

• pratigṛhya: having accepted
• pratigṛhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√grah (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त (gerund): ‘having accepted’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of prītidānam, understood)

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prītidānam: gift of affection
• prītidānam: Karma (कर्म/object of pratigṛhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yaśasvinī: illustrious
• yaśasvinī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of sītā)

• śliṣṭāñjalipuṭā: with folded hands
• śliṣṭāñjalipuṭā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śliṣṭa (√śliṣ धातु + kta) + añjali + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose hands are joined in añjali’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सीतायाः विशेषणम्

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• samupāsta: attended/sat near
• samupāsta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√ās (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि ‘sat near/attended’

• tapodhanām: the ascetic lady (rich in austerity)
• tapodhanām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose wealth is austerity’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनसूयाम् (object)

Context

Illustrious Sita accepted the gifts of love and with palms folded in reverence sat beside her, an ascetic.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Anasūyā

FAQs

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

Respectful service (sevā) and humility toward the spiritually accomplished are presented as dharma—Sītā receives a gift with gratitude and sits near Anasūyā with reverent folded palms.

What is the narrative situation?

In the forest hermitage setting, Sītā accepts Anasūyā’s affectionate offering and then remains seated near her, signaling readiness to listen and learn.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s vinaya (modesty and reverence) and her readiness to honor ascetics and elders.