Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 11

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का महात्मने।प्रतिज्ञां कर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि।।1.68.11।।

Transliteration

asmai deyā mayā sītā vīryaśulkā mahātmane | pratijñāṃ kartum icchāmi tad anujñātum arhasi ||

Translation

ఈ మహాత్మునికి నేను సీతను ఇవ్వవలసినది—ఆమెకు వరశుల్కం పరాక్రమమే. నా ప్రతిజ్ఞను నెరవేర్చాలని కోరుతున్నాను; దానికి మీరు అనుమతి ప్రసాదించవలెను.

Word by Word

• asmai: to him
• asmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• deyā: to be given
• deyā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (दा धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्/यत्; here यत् sense), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with sītā

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vīrya-śulkā: (as) the prize for prowess
• vīrya-śulkā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies sītā; 'whose bride-price is prowess'

• mahātmane: to the great-souled one
• mahātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratijñām: vow/promise
• pratijñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kartum: to make
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to do/make'

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: for that (reason)
• tat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially 'therefore/for that'

• anujñātum: to consent
• anujñātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (ज्ञा धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to permit/consent'

• arhasi: you ought (to)
• arhasi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष/2nd person), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Sita is fit to be given in marriage to this eminent Rama as a reward for his prowess. I request you to give your consent to fulfil my vow.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Rāma
• pratijñā (vow)

FAQs

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

Keeping one’s vow (pratijñā) is dharma; Janaka frames Sītā’s marriage as the rightful outcome of a publicly established condition, upheld through satya.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma meets the contest requirement, Janaka seeks Daśaratha’s approval to proceed with the marriage, honoring inter-royal protocol.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s integrity and adherence to dharma: he is determined to fulfill his pledge while still respecting Daśaratha’s parental and royal consent.