Shloka 19

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā

Public Opinion and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

कःपुमांस्तुकुलेजातस्स्त्रयंपरगृहाषिताम् ।तेजस्वीपुनरादद्यात्सुहृल्लेख्येनचेतसा ।।6.118.19।।

Transliteration

kaḥ pumāṃs tu kule jātaḥ striyaṃ paragṛhoṣitām |

tejasvī punar ādad yāt suhṛl-lekhyena cetasā ||6.118.19||

Translation

Có bậc trượng phu nào sinh trong dòng tộc cao quý, lại có thể biết rõ mà còn rước về một người nữ đã ở trong nhà kẻ khác—nhất là khi bằng hữu cũng sẽ lấy lòng mà phán xét điều ấy?

Word by Word

• kaḥ: who? which?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pumān: man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān/puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), adversative/emphatic particle

• kule: in a family
• kule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन)

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु) + jāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle/Kta (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with pumān

• striyam: a woman
• striyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन)

• para-gṛha-oṣitām: who has lived in another's house
• para-gṛha-oṣitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + oṣita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: para-gṛhe (in another's house) + oṣitā (dwelt); Kta participle used adjectivally; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies striyam

• tejasvī: splendid, eminent
• tejasvī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tejasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies pumān

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb

• ādad yāt: should accept/take back
• ādad yāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative/Viḍhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• suhṛt-lekhyena: with friendly affection
• suhṛt-lekhyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + lekhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Instrumental/Tṛtīyā (3), Singular (एकवचन); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) lekhya as head; meaning 'by a friendly/affectionate disposition'

• cetasā: with mind, consciously
• cetasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental/Tṛtīyā (3), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"Which eminent man born in a good race will again consciously accept a wife who lived in another's home?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• suhṛt (friends/companions)

FAQs

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

The verse reflects a social-ethical framework where personal decisions are constrained by communal judgment; dharma is treated as inseparable from public trust and reputation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma justifies his rejection by appealing to what society—and even well-wishers—would deem acceptable for a royal man.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Concern for honor and social credibility, presented as necessary for a ruler and exemplar of maryādā.