Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 20

अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः

Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel

Devanagari script

ततस्सीतां महाभागां दृष्ट्वा तां धर्मचारिणीम्।सान्त्वयन्त्यब्रवीद्धृष्टा दिष्ट्या धर्ममवेक्षसे।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sītāṃ mahābhāgāṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ dharmacāriṇīm |

sāntvayanty abravīd dhṛṣṭā diṣṭyā dharmam avekṣase ||

Translation

ຕໍ່ມາ ອະນະສູຍາ ເຫັນນາງສີຕາຜູ້ມີບຸນຍາທິການ ແລະຕັ້ງມັ່ນໃນທຳ ກໍປິຕິຍິນດີ ແລ້ວກ່າວຄຳປອບໃຈວ່າ “ເປັນມົງຄຸນແທ້ ທີ່ເຈົ້າຍັງຮັກສາທຳ.”

Word by Word

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having abandoned’

• ज्ञातिजनम्: kinsmen/relatives
• ज्ञातिजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘kinsfolk/relatives’

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• मानम्: pride/honour
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋद्धम्: abundant/great
• ऋद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (abundant)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भामिनि: O fair lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• अवरुद्धम्: confined/held back
• अवरुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘रामम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (confined/kept back)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिष्ट्या: fortunately
• दिष्ट्या: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिष्ट्या (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-तृतीया (idiomatic adverb)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुगच्छसि: you follow
• अनुगच्छसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Anasuya was delighted to see the glorious Sita who was always engaged in righteous acts and said in kind words, You are fortunate. You are observing your rightful duty.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Anasūyā
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as conscious moral steadfastness—Sītā is praised for actively ‘observing’ and upholding righteous duty in difficult circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Anasūyā meets Sītā in the forest and, seeing her conduct, comforts and commends her commitment to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dharma-niṣṭhā (firm commitment to righteousness) and inner steadiness under hardship.