Shloka 2

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

हितमुक्तं त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशं वचः।कुलं व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनकात्मजे।।।।

Transliteration

hitam uktaṁ tvayā devi snigdhayā sadṛśaṁ vacaḥ |

kulaṁ vyapadiśantyā ca dharmajñe janakātmaje ||

Translation

โอ้เทวี โอ้ธิดาแห่งชนก ผู้รู้ธรรมะ วาจาที่พระองค์ตรัสด้วยความอ่อนโยนและความรัก พร้อมทั้งยกเกียรติวงศ์ตระกูลอันสูงส่งนั้น เป็นถ้อยคำอันเป็นประโยชน์และเหมาะสมยิ่ง

Word by Word

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ/uktaṃ

• uktam: said/spoken
• uktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; passive sense ‘said’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana; (gender-contextual)

• devi: O goddess/lady
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• snigdhayā: affectionately
• snigdhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana; adverbial-instrumental ‘affectionately’

• sadṛśam: suitable/fitting
• sadṛśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2), Ekavacana

• kulam: family/lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2), Ekavacana

• vyapadiśantyā: by (you) mentioning/indicating
• vyapadiśantyā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-apa-√diś (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana; ‘while pointing out/mentioning’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय निपात)

• dharmajñe: O knower of dharma
• dharmajñe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dharma-jña’; Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• janakātmaje: O daughter of Janaka
• janakātmaje: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘Janaka-ātmaja’; Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

O daughter of Janaka, on hearing the words of the sages I promised to undertake the entire protection of sages of the Dandaka forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as guidance that is both affectionate and principled—good counsel should be ‘hita’ (beneficial) and ‘sadṛśa’ (appropriate) to one’s character and lineage.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Dandaka region, Sita has advised Rama with loving concern; Rama acknowledges her counsel as proper and dharmic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s discernment and propriety (dharma-jñāna) in offering timely, fitting advice.