Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 1

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

सात्वेवमुक्ता वैदेही अनसूयाऽनसूयया। प्रतिपूज्य वचो मन्दं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे।।2.118.1।।

Transliteration

sā tv evam uktā vaidehī anasūyā ’nasūyayā | pratipūjya vaco mandaṃ pravaktum upacakrame ||

Translation

Được Anasūyā nói như vậy, Vaidehī—người không mang lòng ác—kính lễ đáp lại, rồi bắt đầu cất lời dịu dàng.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• tu: then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/indeed)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus)

• uktā: having been addressed
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त (kta), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); सा इति विशेषणम्

• vaidehī: Vaidehi (Sita)
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेष्य (proper noun)

• anasūyā: Anasuya
• anasūyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anasūyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); कर्तृ-सम्बन्धे (by Anasuya as speaker)

• anasūyayā: by Anasuya
• anasūyayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anasūyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• pratipūjya: having respectfully honored
• pratipūjya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati-√pūj (धातु) → pratipūjya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having honored'

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• mandam: gently
• mandam: Prakara (प्रकार/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially: gently/softly)

• pravaktum: to speak
• pravaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → pravaktum (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to speak'

• upacakrame: began
• upacakrame: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√kram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Context

When Anasuya thus addressed Vaidehi who is free from any malice, she worshipped Anasuya and started speaking in a gentle tone.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Anasūyā

FAQs

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

Maryādā in speech and conduct: responding to elders and ascetics with reverence and gentle, truthful communication.

What is the narrative situation?

After Anasūyā addresses her, Sītā respectfully replies and begins speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s humility, courtesy, and self-controlled speech.