Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 28

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

पतिव्रता महाभागा छायेवानुगता सदा।इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद्राजा मन्त्रपूतं जलं तदा।।।।

Transliteration

pativratā mahābhāgā chāyevā́nugatā sadā |

ity uktvā prākṣipad rājā mantrapūtaṃ jalaṃ tadā || 1.73.28 ||

Translation

「彼女は貞節を守る妻（pativratā）にして大いなる福徳を具え、影のように常に汝に随うであろう。」そう言って王は、真言により清められた水をそのとき灑いだ。

Word by Word

• पतिव्रता: devoted to her husband
• पतिव्रता: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (सीता)

• महाभागा: highly fortunate
• महाभागा: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• अनुगता: followed
• अनुगता: क्रियाविशेष्य/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: उद्धरण-चिह्न (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• प्राक्षिपत्: sprinkled/cast
• प्राक्षिपत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्त्रपूतम्: purified by mantras
• मन्त्रपूतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र + पूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (जलम्)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

Context

"This my daughter Sita will be your partner in performing her rightful duty. Accept her. Farewell. Take her hand into your own.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights steadfastness and loyalty within dharma: the marital bond is portrayed as constant support and shared duty, ritually affirmed through consecration.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka verbally blesses the couple and seals the act with mantra-purified water, a ritual confirmation of the marriage commitment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s idealized steadfastness (niṣṭhā) and Janaka’s dharmic guardianship in solemnizing the union.