Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 28

सीतासमीपगमनम् / Sītā Brought Near to Rāma

Public Witness and Protocol

Devanagari script

व्यसनेषु न कृच्छ्रेषु न युद्धेषुस्वयंवरे ।न क्रतौनोविवाहेवादर्शनंदूष्यतेस्त्रियाः ।।।।

Transliteration

vyasaneṣu na kṛcchreṣu na yuddheṣu svayaṃvare |

na kratau no vivāhe vā darśanaṃ dūṣyate striyāḥ ||

Translation

В бедствии и в тяжкой нужде, на войне, на сваямваре, при жертвоприношении или на свадьбе — нет вины в том, что женщину видят на людях.

Word by Word

• vyasaneṣu: in calamities
• vyasaneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya

• kṛcchreṣu: in hardships
• kṛcchreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

• na: nor
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya

• yuddheṣu: in battles
• yuddheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

• svayaṃvare: in a self-choice (bridegroom selection)
• svayaṃvare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṃvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; avyayībhāva: svayam (by oneself) + vara (choice)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya

• kratau: in a sacrifice
• kratau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• no: nor
• no: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya; variant form before vowel (naḥ/no) meaning ‘nor’

• vivāhe: in marriage
• vivāhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (disjunctive particle)

• darśanam: appearance; being seen
• darśanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dūṣyate: is censured
• dūṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dūṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; passive sense ‘is censured/tainted’

• striyāḥ: of a woman
• striyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

Context

"The appearance of a woman in public is not condemned in times of difficulty, in straits, in conflicts, in the selection of a husband, or in sacrificial ceremonies or marriage ceremonies."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Women (striyaḥ)
• Svayaṃvara
• Kratu (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contextual: social rules about visibility and modesty are not absolute; necessity, ritual, and public duty can make public appearance appropriate and blameless.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma justifies that a woman’s public appearance in certain circumstances is not improper, countering excessive restriction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s reasoned judgment (viveka) in applying norms with sensitivity to circumstance.