Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 19

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

इदं दिव्यं वरं माल्यं वस्त्रमाभरणानि च।अङ्गरागं च वैदेहि महार्हं चानुलेपनम्।।2.118.18।।मया दत्तमिदं सीते तव गात्राणि शोभयेत्।अनुरूपमसंक्लिष्टं नित्यमेव भविष्यति।।2.118.19।।

Transliteration

idaṃ divyaṃ varaṃ mālyaṃ vastram ābharaṇāni ca |

aṅgarāgaṃ ca vaidehi mahārhaṃ cānulepanam ||2.118.18||

mayā dattam idaṃ sīte tava gātrāṇi śobhayet |

anurūpam asaṅkliṣṭaṃ nityam eva bhaviṣyati ||2.118.19||

Translation

ഹേ വൈദേഹി, ഈ ദിവ്യവും ശ്രേഷ്ഠവുമായ മാലയും വസ്ത്രങ്ങളും ആഭരണങ്ങളും, കൂടാതെ സുഗന്ധമുള്ള അങ്കരാഗവും അമൂല്യമായ അനുലേപനവും സ്വീകരിക്കൂ. ഹേ സീതേ, ഞാൻ നൽകിയ ഇവ നിന്റെ അവയവങ്ങളെ ശോഭിപ്പിക്കും; യോജ്യമായി, മലിനമാകാതെ, നിത്യവും പുതുമയോടെ നിലനിൽക്കും.

Word by Word

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• dattam: given
• dattam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘given’ (qualifies idaṃ)

• idam: this (gift)
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/subject of śobhayet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sīte: O Sītā
• sīte: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• gātrāṇi: limbs
• gātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• śobhayet: would beautify/adorn
• śobhayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु) caus. √śobh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• anurūpam: suitable
• anurūpam: Kriya-puraka (क्रिया-पुरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective of idaṃ)

• asaṅkliṣṭam: unblemished
• asaṅkliṣṭam: Kriya-puraka (क्रिया-पुरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + saṅkliṣṭa (√kliś धातु + kta)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक कृदन्त-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘unsoiled/undistressed’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: always)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

O princess of Videha, O Sita, I bestow on you this best garland of the gods, raiment, jewellery, fragrant unguents, and precious ointment for anointing your body with. All this will beautify your limbs. It is convenient (to use) and will never fade.

Characters & Entities

• Anasūyā
• Sītā
• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• mālya (garland)
• vastra (garments)

FAQs

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

Dharma of hospitality and auspicious support: gifts are offered to strengthen a righteous person’s well-being and dignity.

What is the narrative situation?

Anasūyā gives Sītā divine adornments and unguents, promising their enduring freshness and suitability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Anasūyā’s nurturing generosity and protective intent—her gifts are meant to preserve Sītā’s radiance even in hardship.