Shloka 25

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

ततस्सीतां समानीय सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्।।।।समक्षमग्ने स्संस्थाप्य राघवाभिमुखे तदा।अब्रवीज्जनको राजा कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sītāṃ samānīya sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām |

samakṣam agneḥ saṃsthāpya rāghavābhimukhe tadā |

abravīj janako rājā kausalyānandavardhanam || 1.73.26 ||

Translation

ਫਿਰ ਜਨਕ ਰਾਜੇ ਨੇ ਸਭ ਗਹਿਣਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਜੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਲਿਆ ਕੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਅਗਨੀ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਰਾਘਵ ਦੇ ਅਭਿਮੁਖ ਖੜ੍ਹਾ ਕੀਤਾ; ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕੌਸ਼ਲਿਆ ਦੇ ਆਨੰਦ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• सीताम्: Sītā
• सीताम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• समानीय: having brought
• समानीय: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having brought’

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आभरण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (सीताम्)

• समक्षम्: in the presence
• समक्षम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समक्षम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb) ‘in the presence of’

• अग्नेः: of Agni
• अग्नेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• संस्थाप्य: having placed
• संस्थाप्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having placed/installed’

• राघव-अभिमुखे: facing Rāma
• राघव-अभिमुखे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राघव + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘facing Rāghava’ (स्थान/दिशा)

• तदा: then
• तदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जनकः: Janaka
• जनकः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (जनकः)

• कौसल्या-आनन्द-वर्धनम्: (O) increaser of Kausalyā’s joy
• कौसल्या-आनन्द-वर्धनम्: सम्प्रदान/सम्बोधन (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या + आनन्द + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे कर्मरूप (addressed object)

Context

Thereafter king Janaka brought Sita adorned with various ornaments and placed her in the presence of Agni in front of Rama, the enhancer of the joy of Kausalya. And said:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Agni
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is public accountability in a sacred commitment: the bride is placed before Agni, the ritual witness, emphasizing truth-bound, socially witnessed union.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is ceremonially brought and positioned before the fire, facing Rāma, just before Janaka’s formal words of gifting (kanyādāna).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s dharmic kingship—he conducts the marriage as a solemn sacrament, not merely a private arrangement.