Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 23

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

तथा सीतामुपासीनामनसूया दृढव्रता।वचनं प्रष्टुमारेभे काञ्चित्प्रियकथामनु।।2.118.23।।

Transliteration

tathā sītām upāsīnām anasūyā dṛḍhavratā | vacanaṃ praṣṭum ārebhe kāñcit priyakathām anu ||2.118.23||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ഇരുന്ന സീതയെ കണ്ടു, ദൃഢവ്രതയായ അനസൂയാദേവി പ്രിയമായൊരു കഥ കേൾക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു അവളോടു ചോദ്യം തുടങ്ങുകയായി.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in that manner)

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/object of upāsīnām as perceived)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• upāsīnām: sitting near
• upāsīnām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sitting near/attending’ (qualifies sītām)

• anasūyā: Anasūyā
• anasūyā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anasūyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dṛḍhavratā: firm in vows
• dṛḍhavratā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘firm-vowed’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनसूयायाः विशेषणम्

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/object of ārebhe)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• praṣṭum: to ask
• praṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): ‘to ask’

• ārebhe: began/commenced
• ārebhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rabh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• kāñcit: some/certain
• kāñcit: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-विशेषण (some/certain), विशेषणम् (of priyakathām)

• priyakathām: a dear tale
• priyakathām: Karma (कर्म/object; content of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘dear story’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• anu: concerning/along with
• anu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/prepositional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: अनुगमन/अनुसारार्थक-अव्यय (following/with regard to)

Context

Anasuya who was firm in her vows commenced to ask Sita this way about a certain tale (that was close to her heart).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Anasūyā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes the disciplined pursuit of truth through respectful inquiry—Anasūyā, firm in vows, asks in order to hear and understand an edifying narrative.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā sits beside her, Anasūyā initiates a conversation and turns to the topic of Sītā’s personal story.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Anasūyā’s dṛḍha-vrata (steadfastness) and her thoughtful, purposeful questioning.