Valmiki Ramayana 2.88.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 16

रामशय्यादर्शनम्

Bharata Beholds Rama’s Forest Bed

Devanagari script

मन्ये भर्तु स्सुखा शय्या येन बाला तपस्विनी।सुकुमारी सती दुःखं न हि विजानाति मैथिली।।।।

Transliteration

manye bhartuḥ sukhā śayyā yena bālā tapasvinī |

sukumārī satī duḥkhaṃ na hi vijānāti maithilī ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าคิดว่าแท่นบรรทมของพระสวามีเป็นสุขแก่เธอ; เพราะฉะนั้นนางไมถิลีผู้เยาว์ บอบบาง และภักดี แม้อยู่ในเพศตบะ ก็แทบไม่รู้สึกว่าเป็นทุกข์

Word by Word

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखा: comfortable
• सुखा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘शय्या’

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• येन: for which reason
• येन: करण (Karaṇa/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतु/कारणार्थे (instrumental of cause: ‘by which/for which reason’)

• बाला: the young woman
• बाला: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपस्विनी: ascetic; suffering (one in austerity)
• तपस्विनी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘बाला’

• सुकुमारी: delicate
• सुकुमारी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘मैथिली’

• सती: chaste, virtuous
• सती: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present participle ‘being’ used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘virtuous/chaste’ अर्थे रूढ

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• विजानाति: knows, understands
• विजानाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Hapless Sita is young and delicate. Being a chaste lady, she, even in these (adverse) circumstances, does not feel the brunt. Hence, maybe she thinks her husbands' (hard) bed comfortable to her.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfast companionship: Sītā’s love and virtue transform hardship into acceptable living, illustrating inner strength rooted in righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata reflects that Sītā, though delicate, endures the forest life without complaint because she is with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fortitude and devoted partnership—enduring difficulty with composure.