Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 20

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

कुले महति सम्भूते धर्मज्ञे धर्मचारिणि।शृणु जानकि येनेदं क्रमेणाभ्यागतं मम।।।।

Transliteration

kule mahati sambhūte dharmajñe dharmacāriṇi | śṛṇu jānaki yenedaṃ krameṇābhyāgataṃ mama ||

Translation

ହେ ଜାନକୀ, ମହାନ କୁଳରେ ଜନ୍ମିତା, ଧର୍ମଜ୍ଞା ଓ ଧର୍ମାଚାରିଣୀ—ଶୁଣ; ଏହା ସବୁ କିପରି କ୍ରମେ କ୍ରମେ ମୋ ପାଖକୁ ଆସିଲା, ମୁଁ କହିବି।

Word by Word

• कुले: in a family
• कुले: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महति: great/noble
• महति: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुले)

• सम्भूते: born (in)
• सम्भूते: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √भू (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुले) = born/produced

• धर्मज्ञे: O knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञे: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण (जानकि)

• धर्मचारिणि: O follower of dharma
• धर्मचारिणि: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण (जानकि)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• जानकि: O Janaki
• जानकि: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• येन: by which/whereby
• येन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतु/साधनार्थे (by which/whereby)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रमेण: in sequence/due course
• क्रमेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (in due course)

• अभ्यागतम्: has befallen
• अभ्यागतम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + आ + √गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (इदम्) विशेषण = has come upon/has befallen

• मम: to me/of me
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

You were born in a noble family. You know and practise dharma. I shall tell you how this banishment has come about. Do listen.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā (Jānakī)

FAQs

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

Truth spoken with respect: Rāma prepares to explain events transparently, addressing Sītā as a dharmic partner capable of understanding moral causality.

What is the narrative situation?

After revealing the exile, Rāma begins narrating to Sītā the chain of causes behind it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s respectful communication and moral seriousness—he treats Sītā as a conscientious agent grounded in dharma.