Valmiki Ramayana 3.9.1 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 1

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association

Devanagari script

सुतीक्ष्णेनाभ्यनुज्ञातं प्रस्थितं रघुनन्दनम्।हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।3.9.1।।

Transliteration

sutīkṣṇenābhyanujñātaṃ prasthitaṃ raghunandanam |

hṛdyayā snigdhayā vācā bhartāram idam abravīt ||3.9.1||

Translation

جب رگھو نندن رام، سُتیكشن کی اجازت پا کر روانہ ہوئے، تو سیتا نے اپنے پتی سے دل نشیں اور محبت بھری نرم گفتاری میں یہ بات کہی۔

Word by Word

• सुतीक्ष्णेन: by Sutikshna
• सुतीक्ष्णेन: Kartr (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-निर्देश (agent in passive context)

• अभ्यनुज्ञातम्: permitted
• अभ्यनुज्ञातम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि+अनु+ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle passive): ‘permitted/allowed’

• प्रस्थितम्: departing / having set out
• प्रस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+स्था (धातु) (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘set out/departed’ (qualifying raghunandanam)

• रघु-नन्दनम्: delight of the Raghu line (Rama)
• रघु-नन्दनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘रघोः नन्दनः’

• हृद्यया: with pleasing
• हृद्यया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vācā)

• स्निग्धया: with affectionate
• स्निग्धया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vācā)

• वाचा: with words/speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्/वाचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Context

While Rama was leaving with the permission of Sutikshna, Sita spoke these warm, affectionate words to her husband:

Characters & Entities

• Sutīkṣṇa
• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed through maryādā in relationships: speech that is truthful yet gentle, and counsel offered with affection rather than harshness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma departs from the sage Sutīkṣṇa’s hermitage with permission, and Sītā begins a serious, affectionate address to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s virtue of considerate counsel—she speaks from concern for Rāma’s welfare, using loving and appropriate words.