Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 121, Shloka 1

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रुत्वाशुभंवाक्यंपितामहसमीरितम् ।अङ्केनादायवैदेहिमुत्पपातविभावसुः ।।।।

Transliteration

etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ pitāmaha-samīritam |

aṅkenādāya vaidehīm utpapāta vibhāvasuḥ ||6.121.1||

Translation

Nang marinig ang mapalad na pananalitang binigkas ng Lolo ng mga nilalang (Brahmā), biglang lumundag si Vibhāvasu (Agni), kinalong sa kanyang bisig si Vaidehī.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies वाक्यम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पितामहसमीरितम्: spoken by Brahma
• पितामहसमीरितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितामह + समीरित (प्रातिपदिक; समीरित from √ईर्/ईरय् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies वाक्यम्): 'uttered by Pitāmaha (Brahmā)'

• अङ्केन: in the lap/arms
• अङ्केन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/तुमुन्-समकक्ष (gerund, ल्यप्); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उत्पपात: leapt up/arose
• उत्पपात: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विभावसुः: Vibhavasu (Fire-god)
• विभावसुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

On hearing creator Brahma's address to Rama, fire god emerged picking auspicious Vaidehi in his arms.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Agni (Vibhāvasu)
• Sītā (Vaidehī)

FAQs

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

Truth is validated through impartial witness: Agni, as sacred tester, becomes the instrument by which Satya is publicly established.

What is the narrative situation?

After Brahmā’s pronouncement, Agni emerges from the fire holding Sītā, demonstrating her purity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s purity and steadfast truth (satītva/śuddhatā), confirmed through divine testimony.