Shloka 18

सुतीक्ष्णाश्रमप्रस्थानम्

Departure from Sutikshna’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

ततश्शुभतरे तूणी धनुषी चायतेक्षणा।ददौ सीता तयोर्भ्रात्रोः खङ्गौ च विमलौ ततः।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śubhatarae tūṇī dhanuṣī cāyatekṣaṇā |

dadau sītā tayoḥ bhrātroḥ khaṅgau ca vimalau tataḥ ||

Translation

แล้วพระนางสีดาผู้มีเนตรงามกว้าง ได้ถวายแล่งศรและคันธนูอันเป็นมงคลยิ่งแก่สองพี่น้อง และต่อจากนั้นยังถวายพระแสงดาบสองเล่มอันผ่องใสไร้มลทิน

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then / thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequential adverb)

• śubhatare: more auspicious (two)
• śubhatare: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhatara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual); तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• tūṇī: two quivers
• tūṇī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tūṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• dhanuṣī: two bows
• dhanuṣī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• āyatekṣaṇā: the long-eyed lady
• āyatekṣaṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyata + ikṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive): आयते (long) + ईक्षणे (eyes); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• tayoḥ: to/for those two
• tayoḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (dual)

• bhrātroḥ: of the two brothers
• bhrātroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (dual)

• khaṅgau: two swords
• khaṅgau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• vimalau: two spotless/excellent (ones)
• vimalau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रमवाचक (sequential adverb)

Context

Thereafter large-eyed Sita handed the brothers two quivers, two bows as well as two excellent swords.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Quivers (tūṇī)
• Bows (dhanuṣ)
• Swords (khaṅga)

FAQs

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

It presents dharma as shared responsibility: Sita supports the righteous mission by ensuring readiness and protection for the journey.

What is the narrative situation?

As they prepare to depart from Sūtīkṣṇa’s vicinity, Sita equips Rama and Lakshmana with their weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s practical devotion and courage—active participation in safeguarding dharma rather than passive accompaniment.