Shloka 4

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

ततोबाष्पपरिक्लिन्नंप्रमार्जन्तीस्वमाननम् ।शनैर्गद्गदयावाचाभर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

tato bāṣpa-pariklinnaṃ pramārjantī svam ānanam |

śanair gadgadayā vācā bhartāram idam abravīt ||

Translation

แล้วนางเช็ดใบหน้าของตนที่ชุ่มด้วยน้ำตา จากนั้นจึงกล่าวแก่พระสวามีด้วยถ้อยคำช้า ๆ ด้วยเสียงสั่นเครือสะอื้นว่า

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); उपपद/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• bāṣpa-pariklinnaṃ: wet with tears
• bāṣpa-pariklinnaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + pariklinna (कृदन्त, √klid क्लिद् + pari, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Acc/Nom sg); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle)

• pramārjantī: wiping off
• pramārjantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√mṛj (मृज्) (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रायः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (while wiping)

• svam: her own
• svam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Acc sg); स्वकीय (own)

• ānanam: face
• ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Acc sg)

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanais (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• gadgadayā: in a faltering
• gadgadayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Feminine, Instr sg); विशेषण (qualifying vācā)

• vācā: with speech/voice
• vācā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Feminine, Instr sg)

• bhartāram: husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Masculine, Acc sg)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Acc sg); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg); परस्मैपद

Context

As if pierced by those arrow-like words, Janaka's daughter shed tears excessively, shrinking into her own limbs.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by bhartā)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined self-expression: even in distress, one strives to speak truthfully and with composure, honoring relationships and moral responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, overwhelmed by grief, gathers herself and begins addressing Rāma directly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude and integrity—Sītā steadies herself to articulate her truth despite emotional turmoil.