Shloka 13

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

अथ मे कृषत: क्षेत्रं लाङ्गूलादुत्थिता मया।क्षेत्रं शोधयता लब्धा नाम्ना सीतेति विश्रुता।।1.66.13।।

Transliteration

atha me kṛṣataḥ kṣetraṁ lāṅgūlād utthitā mayā |

kṣetraṁ śodhayatā labdhā nāmnā sīteti viśrutā ||1.66.13||

Translation

ನಂತರ ನಾನು ಹೊಲವನ್ನು ಉಳುಮೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಶುದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಹಾಲಿನ ಮುನೆಯಿಂದ ಅವಳು ನನಗೆ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಳಾದಳು; ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಅವಳು ದೊರಕಿ ‘ಸೀತಾ’ ಎಂಬ ನಾಮದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಳಾದಳು.

Word by Word

• atha: then/thereafter
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: saṃbandha/krama-avyaya (discourse sequencer/क्रमसूचक)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive) or Caturthī (Dative) Ekavacana; enclitic form; here genitive 'my'

• kṛṣataḥ: while (I was) ploughing
• kṛṣataḥ: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛṣ (कृष् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; 'of me while ploughing' (genitive absolute nuance)

• kṣetram: the field/ground
• kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• lāṅgūlāt: from the ploughshare
• lāṅgūlāt: Apādāna (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāṅgūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; instrument-source sense 'from the ploughshare'

• utthitā: arose
• utthitā: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle/क्त), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'arisen'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण; agent expressed instrumentally)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• kṣetram: the field
• kṣetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śodhayatā: while purifying
• śodhayatā: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु; attendant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śudh/śodh (शुध्/शोध् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; 'by me while cleansing/purifying'

• labdhā: was obtained/found
• labdhā: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with sītā

• nāmnā: by name
• nāmnā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; 'by name'

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (उक्तिवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: quotative particle (iti-avyaya/इति)

• viśrutā: well-known
• viśrutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'renowned'

Context

Arisen from the earth and not from a mother's womb, she grew up as my daughter. I made a stipulation that (this shall be the means to win this maiden as a gift) this shall be given in marriage only to the prince whose prowess is fully tried.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• lāṅgūla (ploughshare)

FAQs

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

The verse links dharma with śaucam (purity) and reverence for life: in a sanctifying act (cleansing the ground), a sacred responsibility (Sītā) is received.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka narrates Sītā’s discovery—arising from the earth while he ploughs and prepares the ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s conscientiousness in ritual duty and his readiness to accept a divine trust without possessiveness.