Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 82

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

तामुवाच ततो राम: परुषं जनसंसदि ।अमृष्यमाणा सा सीता विवेश ज्वलनं सती ।।।।

Transliteration

tām uvāca tato rāmaḥ paruṣaṃ janasaṃsadi | amṛṣyamāṇā sā sītā viveśa jvalanaṃ satī ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, giữa hội chúng, Rāma nói lời nghiêm khắc về nàng. Sītā, bậc trinh liệt, không chịu nổi những lời ấy, liền bước vào ngọn lửa rực cháy.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her (Sītā)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘उवाच’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• उवाच: spoke/said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण) ‘then/thereupon/therefore’

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परुषम्: harsh (words)
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-content of speech)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular; used substantively ‘harsh (words)’

• जनसंसदि: in the public assembly
• जनसंसदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + संसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; जनानां संसदि = ‘in the assembly of people’

• अमृष्यमाणा: unable to endure
• अमृष्यमाणा: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of ‘सा सीता’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-√मृष् (धातु) + शानच् (शतृ/वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त)
• Form: Present participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘not enduring’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सीता: Sītā
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular (apposition to ‘सा’)

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• ज्वलनम्: fire
• ज्वलनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘विवेश’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular; ‘fire’

• सती: chaste, virtuous
• सती: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of Sītā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) / √अस् (धातु) → ‘satī’ (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; epithet ‘virtuous/chaste’

Context

Rama spoke harsh words about Sita in the assembly. Sita, incapable of enduring such words, entered fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse presents the ethical tension between private truth and public scrutiny: dharma is portrayed as contested in the arena of reputation, requiring proof and endurance when society doubts.

What is the narrative situation?

In a public assembly, Rāma’s harsh words precipitate Sītā’s decision to undergo the fire ordeal to affirm her purity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness (satītva) and moral courage—she chooses a severe test rather than live under suspicion.