Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.53 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 53

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

मम चैवानुजा साध्वी ऊर्मिला प्रियदर्शना।भार्यार्थे लक्ष्मणस्यापि दत्ता पित्रा मम स्वयम्।।2.118.53।।

Transliteration

mama caivānujā sādhvī ūrmilā priya-darśanā | bhāryārthe lakṣmaṇasyāpi dattā pitrā mama svayam || 2.118.53 ||

Translation

എന്റെ ഇളയ സഹോദരി, സദ്ഗുണസമ്പന്നയും മനോഹരദർശിനിയുമായ ഊർമിളയെയും എന്റെ പിതാവ് സ്വയം ലക്ഷ്മണനു ഭാര്യയായി സമർപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रमवाचक-अव्यय)

• śvaśuram: father-in-law
• śvaśuram: Karma (कर्म) (object of āmantrya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• āmantrya: having invited/addressed
• āmantrya: Kriya (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√mantr (मन्त्र्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having invited/addressed’

• vṛddham: aged
• vṛddham: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying daśaratham

• daśaratham: Dasaratha
• daśaratham: Karma (कर्म) (object in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• nṛpam: the king
• nṛpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to daśaratham

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• pitrā: by (my) father
• pitrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive: ‘I was given’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• dattā: was given
• dattā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; passive predicate

• rāmāya: to Rama
• rāmāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• viditātmane: to the wise/self-possessed one
• viditātmane: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidita (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि): ‘whose self/nature is known’ (i.e., wise, self-possessed); Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular; qualifying rāmāya

Context

When I have been taught by my mother earlier, at the time of bestowal of my hand to Rama in the presence of the sacrificial fire (as witness) is etched in my mind.

Characters & Entities

• Urmilā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Janaka (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma operates through orderly family responsibilities—arranging marriages with propriety to sustain righteous households and alliances.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues recounting the marriage arrangements, noting Urmilā’s being given to Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Familial duty and foresight—Janaka’s responsible action in establishing dharmic unions for his daughters.