Shloka 7

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association

Devanagari script

सत्यसन्ध महाभाग श्रीमल्लक्ष्मणपूर्वज।।3.9.7।।त्वयि धर्मश्च सत्यं च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।

Transliteration

satya-sandha mahā-bhāga śrīman lakṣmaṇa-pūrvaja |

tvayi dharmaś ca satyaṁ ca tvayi sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam || 3.9.7 ||

Translation

ഹേ സത്യസന്ധ മഹാഭാഗാ, ശ്രീമാൻ ലക്ഷ്മണന്റെ മൂത്ത സഹോദരാ, നിനക്കുള്ളിൽ ധർമ്മവും സത്യവും വസിക്കുന്നു; സകലവും നിനക്കിൽ തന്നേ പ്രതിഷ്ഠിതമാണ്.

Word by Word

• सत्य-सन्ध: O true-to-vow one
• सत्य-सन्ध: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate/noble one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘महान् भागः यस्य सः’

• श्रीमत्-लक्ष्मण-पूर्वज: O illustrious elder brother of Lakshmana
• श्रीमत्-लक्ष्मण-पूर्वज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास: ‘लक्ष्मणस्य पूर्वजः’ (with honorific śrīmat as qualifier)

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative/7th)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति+स्था (धातु) (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): ‘established’ (predicative)

Context

O Rama, you are truthful, honourable, powerful. O elder brother of Lakshmana, in you is established truth and righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

The verse equates dharma with satya (truth) and presents them as mutually reinforcing foundations of a righteous life and righteous leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is being addressed as the embodiment of dharma and truth, reinforcing his role as the standard for ethical conduct within the epic’s moral universe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-sandhatva—steadfast fidelity to truth and vows—portrayed as the basis upon which all virtues remain stable.