Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 119, Shloka 9

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

मदधीनंतुयत्तन्मेहृदयंत्वयिवर्तते ।पराधीनेषुगात्रेषुकिंकरिष्याम्यनीश्वरी ।।।।

Transliteration

mad-adhīnaṃ tu yat tan me hṛdayaṃ tvayi vartate | parādhīneṣu gātreṣu kiṃ kariṣyāmy anīśvarī ||

Translation

కానీ నా అధీనంలో ఉన్నది—నా హృదయం—అది మీలోనే నిలిచింది; నా అవయవాలు పరాధీనమై ఉన్నప్పుడు, స్వాతంత్ర్యంలేని నేను ఏమి చేయగలను?

Word by Word

• mad-adhīnam: dependent on me
• mad-adhīnam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dependent on me/under my control)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध (but/indeed)

• yat: that which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen sg)

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• tvayi: in you
• tvayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• vartate: abides/exists
• vartate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (वृत्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg); आत्मनेपद

• parādhīneṣu: in (limbs) under others' control
• parādhīneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन (Loc pl); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dependent on others)

• gātreṣu: in the limbs/body
• gātreṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन (Loc pl)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; प्रश्न (what)

• kariṣyāmi: shall I do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष एकवचन (1st sg); परस्मैपद

• anīśvarī: powerless
• anīśvarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त (not having power)

Context

"That mind which is under my control is my heart and it abides in you. What can I do about my limbs when I am at others' mercy?"

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes the primacy of inner intention and steadfastness (hṛdaya-niṣṭhā) when the body is constrained; judgement must consider freedom and consent.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā concludes her argument by separating inner devotion to Rāma from the externally controlled condition of her body during captivity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast loyalty and self-knowledge—Sītā asserts unwavering inner commitment despite external coercion.