Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 9

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

अथाऽत्मपरिधानार्थं सीता कौशेयवासिनी।समीक्ष्य चीरं सन्त्रस्ता पृषती वागुरामिव।।2.37.9।।

Transliteration

athātmaparidhānārthaṃ sītā kauśeyavāsinī | samīkṣya cīraṃ santrastā pṛṣatī vāgurām iva || 2.37.9 ||

Translation

แล้วพระนางสีตา ผู้ยังทรงฉลองพระองค์แพรไหม ครั้นทอดพระเนตรผ้าเปลือกไม้ซึ่งจัดไว้ให้ทรงนุ่งห่ม ก็ทรงสะท้านหวาดหวั่น ดุจแม่เนื้อเมื่อประจันกับบ่วงพราน

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla-sambandha (काल-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक

• आत्मपरिधानार्थम्: for her own wearing
• आत्मपरिधानार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman + paridhāna + artha (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (artha), द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of self-wearing)

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कौशेयवासिनी: wearing silk
• कौशेयवासिनी: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kauśeya + vāsinī (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (one dwelling/wearing silk)

• समीक्ष्य: having seen
• समीक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ī√kṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• चीरम्: bark garment
• चीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सन्त्रस्ता: frightened
• सन्त्रस्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√tras (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पृषती: a doe
• पृषती: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमा-उपमेय

• वागुराम्: a snare
• वागुराम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāgurā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

Context

Then Sita in silk clothes glanced at the bark robes meant for her to wear and was frightened like a doe seeing a (fowler's) snare.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• bark garment (cīra)

FAQs

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

Dharma here highlights the human cost of righteous decisions: even when exile is accepted for truth and duty, it can still cause fear and vulnerability in loved ones.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is confronted with the immediate, tangible symbol of exile—bark clothing—prompting an instinctive shock.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sensitivity and realism: the verse portrays Sītā’s natural fear, setting the stage for her later courage and resolve.