Shloka 23

पुष्पकविमानयात्रा—सेतुबन्धादि-दर्शनम्

Pushpaka Aerial Journey and Survey of Sacred Landmarks

Devanagari script

अथदृष्टवापुरींसीताकिष्किन्धांवालिपालिताम् ।।।।अब्रवीत्पश्रितंवाक्यंरामंप्रणतसाध्वसा ।

Transliteration

atha dṛṣṭvā purīṃ sītā kiṣkindhāṃ vālipālitām | abravīt paśritaṃ vākyaṃ rāmaṃ praṇatasādhvasā ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ സീത, വാലി കാത്തിരുന്ന കിഷ്കിന്ധാപുരി കണ്ടിട്ട്, ഭക്തിപൂർവ്വം നമ്രമായ ലജ്ജാഭയത്തോടെ രാമനെ ആശ്രയിച്ച് മധുരവചനം പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: then/thereupon)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• किष्किन्धाम्: Kishkindha
• किष्किन्धाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किष्किन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुरीम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणभावेन (apposition)

• वालिपालिताम्: ruled/protected by Vali
• वालिपालिताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वालि + पालित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वालिना पालिता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुरीम् इति विशेषण

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रश्रितम्: humble, respectful
• प्रश्रितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-श्रि (धातु) > प्रश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्यम् इति विशेषण

• वाक्यम्: words, speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रामम्: to Rama
• रामम्: सम्प्रदान/प्रति (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे कर्मवत् (addressed as object of speech)

• प्रणतसाध्वसा: with timid reverence (bowed and fearful)
• प्रणतसाध्वसा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत + साध्वस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रणतं साध्वसं यस्याः/या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सीता इति विशेषण

Context

"Sita! You are seeing the capital of Sugriva, beautiful Kishkinda with lovely woods. Vali was killed here by me."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Kiṣkindhā
• Vālī

FAQs

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

Respectful speech and relational dharma: Sītā’s manner—reverent, restrained, and affectionate—models dignified communication even amid intense life events.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kiṣkindhā is shown, the narration transitions to Sītā beginning her request/speech to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s modesty and devotion—expressed as gentle hesitation joined with reverence.