Shloka 22

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

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

सदृशं चानुरूपं च कुलस्य तव चात्मनः।सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी।।।।

Transliteration

sadṛśaṁ cānurūpaṁ ca kulasya tava cātmanaḥ |

sadharmacāriṇī me tvaṁ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasī ||

Translation

Lời nàng thật tương xứng, hòa hợp với dòng tộc của nàng và với chính đức hạnh của nàng. Nàng là bạn đồng hành cùng ta trên con đường Dharma; vì thế, nàng còn quý hơn cả mạng sống của ta.

Word by Word

• sadṛśam: befitting
• sadṛśam: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate adjective (agreeing with implied 'etat/uktam' or with 'tvam' in sense) = 'befitting'

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

• anurūpam: appropriate
• anurūpam: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective = 'appropriate'

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

• kulasya: of (your) family
• kulasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• ātmanaḥ: of yourself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sadharmacāriṇī: a companion in dharma
• sadharmacāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता; subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-dharma-cāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; components: सह + धर्म + चारिणी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of 'tvam' = 'one who follows dharma together (with husband)'

• me: to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'to me/of me'

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prāṇebhyaḥ: than (my) life-breaths
• prāṇebhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; comparison base with garīyasī = 'than life'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; 'even'

• garīyasī: dearer/more weighty
• garīyasī: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of guru)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative) predicate of 'tvam'

Context

But permit me, Devi, you have already stated, when a kshatriya holds a bow there will be no cry of distress. (it means you approve of my holding a bow)

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma is shared: the ideal spouse is a sadharmacāriṇī—one who participates in and strengthens righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama praises Sita’s counsel as appropriate and affirms their dharmic companionship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyal companionship in righteousness—Sita as a partner in dharma, not merely a dependent.