Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 18

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Setting: Ayodhya (royal palace/inner apartments)

Devanagari script

व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत्सुविभूषिता ।

उद्यतोंऽशुमतः काले खं प्रभेव विवस्वतः ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.18

Transliteration

vyarājayata vaidehī veśma tat suvibhūṣitā |

udyatoṃśumataḥ kāle khaṃ prabheva vivasvataḥ ||18||

Translation

அழகிய ஆபரணங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட வைதேஹி அந்த அரண்மனையை ஒளிரச் செய்தாள்; உதயசூரியனின் பிரகாசத்தால் விடியற்கால வானம் ஒளிர்வதுபோல.

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Word by Word

• व्यराजयत्: made shine/illumined
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; सकर्मक (made shine/illuminated)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• वैदेही: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वेश्म: palace/house
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तत्: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वेश्म इति विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सुविभूषिता: well-adorned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + वि + भूष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वैदेही इति विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• उद्यतः: rising
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + या/स्था (प्रातिपदिक उद्यत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विवस्वतः इति विशेषण (rising)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• अंशुमतः: of the radiant (sun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विवस्वतः इत्यस्य विशेषण (of the radiant one)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• काले: at the time (dawn)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समयाधिकरण (time-locative)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• खम्: sky
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object compared)
• Role: Upamana (उपमान)

• प्रभा: light/splendour
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमेय (that which is compared)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• विवस्वतः: of the Sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

Sandhi Notes

• उद्यतोऽंशुमतः = उद्यतः + अंशुमतः
• प्रभेव = प्रभा + इव

Context

Well-adorned Sita illumined the palace like the rising Sun lighting up the sky at dawn.

The teaching

Auspicious inner radiance (śrī/tejas) is portrayed as harmonizing and beautifying the social space it inhabits.

Ethical theme

Guṇa/śīla (auspicious conduct and presence)

For your practice

Dhyāna on Sītā’s śrī as an emblem of purity and auspiciousness; cultivating sattvic beauty and inner luminosity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Radiant, ornate, auspicious

Themes

• Dharma
• Auspiciousness
• Itihasa
• Poetics (upamā/simile)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• palace (Ayodhyā palace)
• Sun (Vivasvat)
• sky

FAQs

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

Inner purity and steadfast dharma are portrayed as radiance: Sītā’s moral stature is mirrored outwardly as light and auspicious beauty, even on the brink of hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

As Sītā prepares for exile, the narrator describes her splendor in the palace through a dawn-and-sun simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s auspicious presence and dignified composure—radiance that arises from character, not comfort.