Valmiki Ramayana 2.119.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 119, Shloka 1

अनसूयाप्रीतिदानम्

Anasūyā’s Blessing and the Forest Path

Devanagari script

अनसूया तु धर्मज्ञा श्रुत्वा तां महतीं कथाम्।पर्यष्वजत बाहुभ्यां शिरस्याघ्राय मैथिलीम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.119.1

Transliteration

anasūyā tu dharmajñā śrutvā tāṁ mahatīṁ kathām | paryaṣvajata bāhubhyāṁ śirasy āghrāya maithilīm ||

Translation

अनसूया तु धर्मज्ञा तां महतीं कथां श्रुत्वा मैथिलीं बाहुभ्यां पर्यष्वजत, शिरसि चाघ्राय स्नेहेन।

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Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• dattā: given/bestowed
• dattā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular; passive predicate with asmi

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• rāmāya: to Rama
• rāmāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular

• svayaṃvare: in the svayaṃvara
• svayaṃvare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṃvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular

• anuraktā: devoted/attached
• anuraktā: Karta (कर्ता) (state of speaker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√rañj (रञ्ज्) (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle used as predicate adjective, Feminine, Nominative, Singular; with asmi

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ, Parasmaipada, 1st person, Singular

• dharmeṇa: by/according to righteousness
• dharmeṇa: Karana (करण) (manner/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular; adverbial ‘according to dharma’

• patim: husband
• patim: Karma (कर्म) (object of anuraktā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• vīryavatām: of the valiant
• vīryavatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Possessive adjective (मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural; dependent genitive with varam: ‘of the valiant’

• varam: the best
• varam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying patim

Context

Then righteous Anasuya, having heard the great story of Sita, kissed her on the forehead and embraced her with both the arms.

Characters & Entities

• Anasūyā
• Sītā (Maithilī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as compassionate hospitality—honouring a virtuous guest with sincere affection and respect.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Sītā’s account, Anasūyā responds with maternal warmth, embracing and kissing her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Anasūyā’s dharma-jñatā (moral discernment) and loving compassion toward a guest who embodies fidelity and truth.