Valmiki Ramayana 2.33.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 9

त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha

Devanagari script

अङ्गरागोचितां सीतां रक्तचन्दनसेविनीम्।वर्षमुष्णं च शीतं च नेष्यन्त्याशु विवर्णताम्।।।।

Transliteration

aṅgarāgocitāṃ sītāṃ raktacandana-sevinīm | varṣam uṣṇaṃ ca śītaṃ ca neṣyanty āśu vivarṇatām ||

Translation

സുഗന്ധലേപങ്ങൾക്കു യോജ്യയും രക്തചന്ദനലേപം പതിവായവളുമായ സീത ഇനി മഴയും ചൂടും തണുപ്പും സഹിക്കേണ്ടിവരും; അവ അവളുടെ വർണ്ണകാന്തി വേഗം മങ്ങിക്കും.

Word by Word

• aṅgarāgocitām: accustomed to fragrant unguents
• aṅgarāgocitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅga-rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (कृदन्त; √uc/√vac? here ucita 'fit/accustomed')
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: aṅga-rāga-ucitā 'accustomed to body-unguents'; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying sītām

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• raktacandana-sevinīm: using red sandalpaste
• raktacandana-sevinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta-candana (प्रातिपदिक) + sevinī (प्रातिपदिक from √sev सेव्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: rakta-candana-sevinī 'one who uses/serves red sandal'; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying sītām

• varṣam: rainy season/rain
• varṣam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (here as subject with uṣṇam, śītam)

• uṣṇam: heat
• uṣṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; coordinated with varṣam, śītam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• śītam: cold
• śītam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• neṣyanti: will lead/bring (to)
• neṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (नी)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (periphrastic future/लुट् used as simple future sense), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverb)

• vivarṇatām: discoloration, pallor
• vivarṇatām: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; result state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivarṇatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; abstract noun

Context

Sita who used to apply fragrant unguents and smear the body with red-sandalcream will now be exposed to the rain, the heat and the cold which will quickly discolour her body.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implicit in exile context)

FAQs

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

Dharma may require embracing discomfort: the verse highlights the moral weight of accepting austerity as part of righteous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Onlookers foresee how palace-raised Sītā will physically suffer from exposure to nature during the exile journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance and fidelity—choosing to share Rāma’s dharmic path despite foreseeable hardship.