Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 13

सीतासमीपगमनम् / Sītā Brought Near to Rāma

Public Witness and Protocol

Devanagari script

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वामैथिलीपतिदेवता ।भर्तृभक्त्यावृतासाध्वीतथेतिप्रत्यभाषत ।।।।

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā maithilī pati-devatā |

bhartṛ-bhaktyāvṛtā sādhvī tatheti pratyabhāṣata ||

Translation

அவருடைய சொற்களை கேட்ட மைதிலி—கணவனையே தெய்வமாகக் கொண்டவள்—கணவன் பக்தியால் சூழப்பட்ட அந்தச் சாத்வி, “ததாஸ்து” என்று பதிலளித்தாள்.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him (Vibhishana)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वचनस्य विशेषणम्

• वचनम्: speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म; object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पतिदेवता: one who regards her husband as god
• पतिदेवता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati-devatā (पति + देवता; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (genitive sense): पतिः देवता यस्याः सा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मैथिल्याः विशेषणम्

• भर्तृभक्त्या: by devotion to (her) husband
• भर्तृभक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण; means—by devotion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ-bhakti (भर्तृ + भक्ति; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भर्तुः भक्तिः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• आवृता: covered/filled
• आवृता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + vṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• साध्वी: virtuous lady
• साध्वी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रशंसावाचक

• तथेति: "so be it"
• तथेति: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ; quoted assent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā + iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चय: 'तथा' + 'इति' (quotative)

• प्रत्यभाषत: replied
• प्रत्यभाषत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Thereafter Vibheeshana, making Sita to ascend the palanquin, covered with valuable clothes and guarded by numerous Rakshasas after she adorned herself in the best of ornaments and put on glowing wonderful clothes brought to Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined consent to rightful guidance: Sītā accepts the prescribed course, placing duty and propriety above personal impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vibhīṣaṇa insists she follow Rāma’s instruction, Sītā agrees and prepares accordingly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s devotion and self-restraint—she yields to dharmic procedure even when longing for immediate reunion.