Shloka 32

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

ददृशुस्तांविशालाक्षींपतन्तींहव्यवाहनम् ।।।।सीतांसर्वाणिरूपाणिरुक्मवेदिनिभांतदा ।

Transliteration

dadṛśus tāṃ viśālākṣīṃ patantīṃ havyavāhanam |

sītāṃ sarvāṇi rūpāṇi rukma-vedi-nibhāṃ tadā ||

Translation

ครั้งนั้น สรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวงได้เห็นนางสีตาผู้มีดวงตากว้าง กำลังร่วงลงสู่หัวยวาหนะ—ผู้แบกเครื่องบูชา คือไฟ—สว่างไสวดุจแท่นบูชาทองคำ

Word by Word

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• विशालाक्षीम्: large-eyed
• विशालाक्षीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः (विशाले अक्षिणी यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ताम्/सीताम् इति विशेषणम्

• पतन्तीम्: falling
• पतन्तीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; सीताम् इति विशेषणम्

• हव्यवाहनम्: the carrier of oblations (Agni)
• हव्यवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (हव्यं वहति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; गन्तव्य/आश्रय-रूपेण (into the fire)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; रूपाणि इति विशेषणम्

• रूपाणि: forms/beings (lit. forms)
• रूपाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• रुक्मवेदिनिभाम्: like a golden altar
• रुक्मवेदिनिभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुक्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदि (प्रातिपदिक) + निभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (रुक्मवेद्याः निभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; सीताम् इति विशेषणम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

Context

All the three worlds witnessed noble dark Sita entering the fire, like ghee offered to fire.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Agni (Havyavāhana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as something witnessed by the whole cosmos: moral truth is not private alone but resonates as a sacred, ritual reality.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration expands the audience from humans to all beings, describing Sītā’s descent into the sacrificial fire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sacral dignity—Sītā is depicted with the radiance and sanctity of a ritual altar, emphasizing her purity.