Shloka 11

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का महात्मने।प्रतिज्ञां कर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि।।1.68.11।।

Transliteration

asmai deyā mayā sītā vīryaśulkā mahātmane | pratijñāṃ kartum icchāmi tad anujñātum arhasi ||

Translation

ខ្ញុំត្រូវប្រគល់នាងសីតា​ដល់មហាត្មាអង្គនេះ—ដែលថ្លៃអាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍របស់នាងគឺវីរភាព។ ខ្ញុំប្រាថ្នានឹងបំពេញព្រហ្មពាក្យសច្ចា; សូមព្រះអង្គមេត្តាអនុញ្ញាត។

Word by Word

• asmai: to him
• asmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• deyā: to be given
• deyā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (दा धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्/यत्; here यत् sense), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with sītā

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vīrya-śulkā: (as) the prize for prowess
• vīrya-śulkā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies sītā; 'whose bride-price is prowess'

• mahātmane: to the great-souled one
• mahātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratijñām: vow/promise
• pratijñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kartum: to make
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to do/make'

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: for that (reason)
• tat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially 'therefore/for that'

• anujñātum: to consent
• anujñātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (ज्ञा धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to permit/consent'

• arhasi: you ought (to)
• arhasi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष/2nd person), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Sita is fit to be given in marriage to this eminent Rama as a reward for his prowess. I request you to give your consent to fulfil my vow.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Rāma
• pratijñā (vow)

FAQs

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

Keeping one’s vow (pratijñā) is dharma; Janaka frames Sītā’s marriage as the rightful outcome of a publicly established condition, upheld through satya.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma meets the contest requirement, Janaka seeks Daśaratha’s approval to proceed with the marriage, honoring inter-royal protocol.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s integrity and adherence to dharma: he is determined to fulfill his pledge while still respecting Daśaratha’s parental and royal consent.