Valmiki Ramayana 2.26.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

वैदेही चापि तत्सर्वं न शुश्राव तपस्विनी।तदेव हृदि तस्याश्च यौवराज्याभिषेचनम्।।।।

Transliteration

vaidehī cāpi tat sarvaṃ na śuśrāva tapasvinī |

tad eva hṛdi tasyāś ca yauvarājyābhiṣecanam ||

Translation

Vaidehī (Sītā), absorta nas austeridades preparatórias da consagração, não ouviu nada daqueles acontecimentos; em seu coração havia apenas o pensamento da coroação do herdeiro.

Word by Word

• deva-kāryam: divine duty/ritual
• deva-kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदik) + kārya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• svayam: herself
• svayam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (reflexive adverb): 'herself'

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा): 'having done'

• kṛtajñā: grateful
• kṛtajñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ) + jña (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; 'knowing what has been done' = grateful

• hṛṣṭa-cetanā: with joyful mind
• hṛṣṭa-cetanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, √hṛṣ) + cetanā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; 'with delighted mind'

• abhijñā: skilled/experienced
• abhijñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhijñā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; 'well-versed'

• rāja-dharmāṇām: of royal duties
• rāja-dharmāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदik) + dharma (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana

• rāja-putram: the prince
• rāja-putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदik) + putra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• pratīkṣate: waits for/awaits
• pratīkṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + prati- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

Context

Sita, her mind preoccupied with thoughts about consecration, was engaged in religious austerities and hence could not hear of all this (development).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Videha (implied by epithet)
• yauvarājya
• abhiṣeka

FAQs

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

Dharma as devoted preparation: Sītā’s austerity reflects conscientious participation in sacred royal duty, even as events turn unexpectedly.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes Sītā being preoccupied with coronation-related observances and therefore unaware of the political reversal unfolding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Religious diligence and single-minded devotion to duty.