Valmiki Ramayana 2.38.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament

Devanagari script

स निःश्वस्योष्णमैक्ष्वाक स्तां भार्यामिदमब्रवीत्।कैकेयि कुशचीरेण न सीता गन्तुमर्हति।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.38.3

Transliteration

sa niḥśvasyōṣṇam aikṣvākaḥ stāṃ bhāryām idam abravīt | kaikeyi kuśacīreṇa na sītā gantum arhati ||

Translation

Raja keturunan Ikṣvāku, menghela nafas panas, berkata kepada permaisurinya: “Wahai Kaikeyī, Sītā tidak patut pergi berbalut pakaian daripada rumput kuśa.”

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Word by Word

• सः: He (Dasharatha)
• सः: Subject (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (tad)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन)

• निःश्वस्य: Having sighed
• निःश्वस्य: Action Modifier (Purvakalika Kriya)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निस् + श्वस् (nis + śvas)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive/Gerund)

• उष्णम्: Hotly/Hot
• उष्णम्: Adverbial Object (Kriya-visheshana)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (uṣṇa)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (used adverbially)

• ऐक्ष्वाकः: Descendant of Ikshvaku
• ऐक्ष्वाकः: Subject (Karta - in apposition to 'sa')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्ष्वाक (aikṣvāka)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (Taddhita derivative)

• ताम्: Her (that)
• ताम्: Object (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (tad)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन)

• भार्याम्: Wife
• भार्याम्: Object (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (bhāryā)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: This (speech/word)
• इदम्: Object (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (idam)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: Spoke/Said
• अब्रवीत्: Main Verb (Kriya)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (brū)
• Form: Lang Lakara (Imperfect Past), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: Address (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (kaikeyī)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular (सम्बोधन)

• कुशचीरेण: With a garment of Kusha grass
• कुशचीरेण: Instrument (Karana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशचीर (kuśacīra)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular (तृतीया, एकवचन)

• न: Not
• न: Negation (Nishedha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (na)
• Form: Particle of Negation

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Subject (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (sītā)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गन्तुम्: To go
• गन्तुम्: Purpose/Object of 'arhati'
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (gam)
• Form: Tumun Pratyaya (Infinitive)

• अर्हति: Is worthy/Deserves
• अर्हति: Main Verb (Kriya)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (arh)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

Context

The descendant of the Ikshvakus (Dasaratha), heaving hot sighs, said to his wife OKaikeyi, Sita does not deserve to go (to the forest) in garment of kusa grass.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Sītā
• Ikṣvāku lineage
• kuśa (grass)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes proportionality and fairness: punishment or hardship should not be extended to the innocent, nor intensified through humiliation.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha protests to Kaikeyī that Sītā should not be forced into the degrading signs of forest-ascetic life, even as Rāma is being exiled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s protective compassion toward Sītā and his sense of justice, even while trapped by promises and palace politics.