Shloka 20

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

विशुद्धात्रिषुलोकेषुमैथिलीजनकात्मजा ।न विहातुंमयाशक्याकीर्तिरात्ववतायथा ।।।।

Transliteration

viśuddhā triṣu lokeṣu maithilī janakātmajā |

na vihātuṁ mayā śakyā kīrtir ātmavatā yathā ||

Translation

ജനകാത്മജയായ മൈഥിലി മൂന്നു ലോകങ്ങളിലും വിശുദ്ധയാണ്; ആത്മസംയമമുള്ള പുരുഷൻ തന്റെ കീർത്തി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാത്തതുപോലെ, ഞാനും അവളെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാൻ കഴിയില്ല.

Word by Word

• विशुद्धा: unsullied
• विशुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; वि + √शुध् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (pure/unsullied)

• त्रिषु: in the three
• त्रिषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (loc pl: in three)

• लोकेषु: worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन (loc pl)

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom sg)

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter
• जनकात्मजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनकात्मजा (प्रातिपदिक; जनक + आत्मजा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Janaka's daughter)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• विहातुम्: to abandon
• विहातुम्: Purpose/Complement (प्रयोजन/पूरक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √हा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive: to abandon/renounce)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr sg: by me)

• शक्या: possible
• शक्या: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; √शक् (धातु) + य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (possible)

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom sg)

• आत्मवता: by a self-possessed man
• आत्मवता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (instr sg: by a self-possessed man)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/प्रकारार्थक (as)

Context

"Sita is of good conduct and auspicious. To you who are endowed with valour, she is faithful by speech, by intention of thought and intellect and even by glance."

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Maithili (Sita)
• Janaka
• Three worlds (trailokya)
• Kirti (fame)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the protection of truth and rightful relationship: once Sītā’s purity is established, abandoning her would violate justice, marital duty, and moral consistency.

What is the narrative situation?

After Agni’s testimony, Rāma states publicly that Sītā is universally pure and therefore cannot be renounced.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to satya and to restoring rightful honor; Sītā’s purity is affirmed as beyond dispute.