Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 8

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

पाणिप्रदानकाले च यत्पुरात्वग्नि सन्निधौ।अनुशिष्टा जनन्याऽस्मि वाक्यं तदपि मे धृतम्।।2.118.8।।

Transliteration

pāṇi-pradāna-kāle ca yat purā tv agni-sannidhau | anuśiṣṭā jananyā asmi vākyaṁ tad api me dhṛtam || 2.118.8 ||

Translation

Dan sabda yang dahulu ibuku ajarkan kepadaku—pada saat penyerahan tanganku dalam pernikahan di hadapan api suci—sabda itu pun kusimpan erat di dalam diriku.

Word by Word

• पाणिप्रदानकाले: at the time of giving the hand (in marriage)
• पाणिप्रदानकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि-प्रदान-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative 7th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाणेः प्रदानस्य कालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which/that (word)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धः—‘वाक्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्धः (relative pronoun)

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• अग्नि-सन्निधौ: in the presence of the fire
• अग्नि-सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि-सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative 7th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः सन्निधिः)

• अनुशिष्टा: (I) was instructed
• अनुशिष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-शास् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘उपदिष्टा/शिक्षिता’

• जनन्या: by (my) mother
• जनन्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental 3rd), एकवचन

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; ‘अहम् अस्मि’

• वाक्यम्: the statement/word
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative 2nd), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तद् (वाक्यम्)’ इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्यय (also/even)

• मे: of me / by me (context: by me)
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive 6th), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• धृतम्: held/kept (observed)
• धृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धारितम्/पालितम्’

Context

Thereafter, my father-in-law, the aged king Dasaratha was invited and my father offered me to Rama known for his sagacity.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma in marriage is anchored in remembered vows and parental instruction, witnessed by sacred ritual (Agni) and upheld through life’s trials.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā tells Anasūyā that she still holds the teachings her mother gave her during the marriage ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fidelity to sacred commitments—Sītā’s unwavering remembrance of marital dharma and the sanctity of rites.