Shloka 24

कृतकृत्या हि वैदेही छायेवानुगता पतिम्।न जहाति रता धर्मे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा।।।।

kṛtakṛtyā hi vaidehī chāyevā’nugatā patim | na jahāti ratā dharme merum arka-prabhā yathā ||

ویدیہی نے اپنے مقصد کو پورا جان کر، دھرم میں رچی بسی ہو کر، اپنے پتی کو نہیں چھوڑتی؛ وہ اس کے پیچھے سائے کی طرح چلتی ہے—جیسے مرو پروت سے سورج کی کرنیں جدا نہیں ہوتیں۔

kṛta-kṛtyāhaving fulfilled her purpose
kṛta-kṛtyā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛta + kṛtya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (कृ) + क्त; kṛtya as noun)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (kṛtaṃ kṛtyaṃ yayā = one whose duty is done/fulfilled)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)
vaidehīVaidehi (Sita)
vaidehī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (Sita)
chāyāshadow
chāyā:
Upamana (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootchāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)
ivalike
iva:
Upama (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमार्थक (like)
anugatāhaving followed
anugatā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootanu + √gam (गम्) + क्त
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): having followed
patimhusband
patim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpati (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध (not)
jahātileaves/abandons
jahāti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√hā (हा)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
ratādevoted
ratā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootrata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ram (रम्) + क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: devoted/attached
dharmein duty
dharme:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विषय-सप्तमी (in duty)
merumMount Meru
merum:
Upameya (उपमेय)
TypeNoun
Rootmeru (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमेय-सम्बद्ध उपमान (object in comparison)
arka-prabhāsunlight
arka-prabhā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootarka + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (arkasya prabhā = sunlight)
yathāas
yathā:
Upama (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमार्थक (as/like)

Sita, deeply attached to her duty, and with her desire fulfilled is following her husband like a shadow just as the sunlight which never leaves mount Meru.

V
Vaidehī (Sītā)
R
Rāma (pati)
M
Meru
A
arka (sun)

FAQs

Dharma is steadfast marital fidelity grounded in righteousness: Sītā treats shared hardship as part of her sacred duty, choosing companionship in exile over comfort in the palace.

As Rāma is exiled, Sītā insists on accompanying him; the people describe her unwavering commitment through vivid similes (shadow/sunlight on Meru).

Sītā’s constancy (niṣṭhā) and dharma-centered devotion—she does not separate her life-path from her husband’s righteous path.