Shloka 35

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

सदृशाच्चापकृष्टाच्च लोके कन्यापिता जनात्।प्रधर्षणामवाप्नोति शक्रेणापि समो भुवि।।2.118.35।।

Transliteration

sadṛśāc cāpakṛṣṭāc ca loke kanyā-pitā janāt | pradharṣaṇām avāpnoti śakreṇāpi samo bhuvi || 2.118.35 ||

Translation

ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਲੋਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੁਆਰੀ ਧੀ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ—ਸਮਾਨ ਹੋਣ ਜਾਂ ਨੀਵੇਂ—ਅਪਮਾਨ ਸਹਿਣਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ; ਭਾਵੇਂ ਉਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਕ੍ਰ (ਇੰਦਰ) ਵਰਗਾ ਮਹਾਨ ਹੀ ਕਿਉਂ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ।

Word by Word

• सदृशात्: from an equal
• सदृशात्: अपादान (Apādāna/source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; 'from an equal'

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• अपकृष्टात्: from an inferior
• अपकृष्टात्: अपादान
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपकृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from अप- कृष् 'to draw down')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; 'from an inferior'

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• कन्या-पिता: the father of an unmarried girl
• कन्या-पिता: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (father of a maiden), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जनात्: from people
• जनात्: अपादान
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• प्रधर्षणाम्: humiliation/insult
• प्रधर्षणाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधर्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: obtains/receives
• अवाप्नोति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शक्रेण: with/like Indra
• शक्रेण: करण (standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; standard of comparison

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), 'even/also'

• समः: equal
• समः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of कन्यापिता

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Even though he was an Indra on earth, as a father of an unmarried girl he would be humiliated by men who are his equal or inferior in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Janaka (implied)
• Sītā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma operates within social perception: failing (or appearing to fail) in one’s duty—here, arranging a daughter’s marriage—invites public blame, even against the truly eminent.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains why Janaka felt pressured: society judges and humiliates a father whose daughter remains unmarried.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s concern for propriety and reputation tied to duty, not mere pride.