Shloka 21

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

मम स्नेहाच्च सौहार्दादिदमुक्तंत्वयाऽनघे।परितुष्टोऽस्म्यहं सीते न ह्यनिष्टोऽनुशिष्यते।।।।

Transliteration

mama snehāc ca sauhārdād idam uktaṁ tvayā anaghe |

parituṣṭo 'smy ahaṁ sīte na hy aniṣṭo 'nuśiṣyate ||

Translation

Hỡi Sita vô tội, nàng nói điều ấy vì tình thương và thiện ý dành cho ta; ta rất hoan hỷ—bởi lời khuyên chân chính không bao giờ dẫn đến điều bất lợi.

Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• snehāt: from love
• snehāt: Hetu (हेतु; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; कारण/हेतु = 'out of love'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• sauhārdāt: from affection/friendliness
• sauhārdāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauhārda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; cause

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of 'uktam'

• uktam: was said
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'has been said'

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता; agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; agent

• anaghe: O sinless one
• anaghe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anaghā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• parituṣṭaḥ: pleased
• parituṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-tuṣ (तुष् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of 'aham'

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया; copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sīte: O Sita
• sīte: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphasis

• aniṣṭaḥ: what is undesirable
• aniṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; grammatical subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aniṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of passive 'anuśiṣyate'

• anuśiṣyate: is advised
• anuśiṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-śās (अनुशास् धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; passive/impersonal sense = 'is advised/taught'

Context

Having said this to Sita, the princess of Mithila, Rama along with Lakshmana, bow in hand, moved about the delightful penance-grove.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē daśamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the tenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma values well-intended counsel: advice rooted in affection and goodwill aims at welfare (hita), not harm (aniṣṭa).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama reassures Sita that he understands her admonition as loving guidance and accepts it without resentment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mutual respect in dharmic partnership—Rama honors Sita’s intention and moral concern.