Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 35

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

सदृशाच्चापकृष्टाच्च लोके कन्यापिता जनात्।प्रधर्षणामवाप्नोति शक्रेणापि समो भुवि।।2.118.35।।

Transliteration

sadṛśāc cāpakṛṣṭāc ca loke kanyā-pitā janāt | pradharṣaṇām avāpnoti śakreṇāpi samo bhuvi || 2.118.35 ||

Translation

ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಈ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ಯೆಯ ತಂದೆ ಸಮಾನರಿಂದಲೂ ಅಥವಾ ಹೀನರಿಂದಲೂ ಅವಮಾನವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಕ್ರನಷ್ಟೇ ಮಹಾನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ.

Word by Word

• सदृशात्: from an equal
• सदृशात्: अपादान (Apādāna/source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; 'from an equal'

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• अपकृष्टात्: from an inferior
• अपकृष्टात्: अपादान
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपकृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from अप- कृष् 'to draw down')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; 'from an inferior'

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• कन्या-पिता: the father of an unmarried girl
• कन्या-पिता: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (father of a maiden), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जनात्: from people
• जनात्: अपादान
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• प्रधर्षणाम्: humiliation/insult
• प्रधर्षणाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधर्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: obtains/receives
• अवाप्नोति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शक्रेण: with/like Indra
• शक्रेण: करण (standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; standard of comparison

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), 'even/also'

• समः: equal
• समः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of कन्यापिता

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Even though he was an Indra on earth, as a father of an unmarried girl he would be humiliated by men who are his equal or inferior in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Janaka (implied)
• Sītā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma operates within social perception: failing (or appearing to fail) in one’s duty—here, arranging a daughter’s marriage—invites public blame, even against the truly eminent.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains why Janaka felt pressured: society judges and humiliates a father whose daughter remains unmarried.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s concern for propriety and reputation tied to duty, not mere pride.