Shloka 23

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā

Public Opinion and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

शत्रुघ्नेवाथसुग्रीवेराक्षसेवाविभीषणे ।निवेशयमनस्सीतेयथावासुखमात्मनः ।।6.118.23।।

Transliteration

śatrughne vātha sugrīve rākṣase vā vibhīṣaṇe |

niveśaya manaḥ sīte yathā vā sukham ātmanaḥ ||6.118.23||

Translation

Hỡi Sītā, nàng hãy an trú tâm mình nơi Śatrughna, hoặc nơi Sugrīva, hay thậm chí giữa loài Rākṣasa cùng Vibhīṣaṇa—ở bất cứ nơi nào chính nàng thấy lòng được an lạc.

Word by Word

• śatrughne: with Śatrughna
• śatrughne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन) (sense: 'with/at Śatrughna')

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), alternative particle

• atha: or else
• atha: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), connective/alternative particle

• sugrīve: with Sugrīva
• sugrīve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣase: among the rākṣasas
• rākṣase: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), alternative particle

• vibhīṣaṇe: with Vibhīṣaṇa
• vibhīṣaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative/Saptamī (7), Singular (एकवचन)

• niveśaya: place, settle
• niveśaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) from ni-√viś; Imperative/Loṭ (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative/Dvitīyā (2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sīte: O Sītā
• sīte: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative/Sambodhana, Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), correl./manner adverb

• vā: indeed/or
• vā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), optionality particle

• sukham: happiness, comfort
• sukham: Karma/Phala (फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Prathamā (1), Singular (एकवचन) (predicate sense)

• ātmanaḥ: of yourself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive/Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

" Auspicious one! This utterance has been thought over well today. You may go wherever you find happiness, either to Lakshmana or else to Bharata. Think well and do."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Śatrughna
• Sugrīva
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse continues the theme of dharma as social placement and protection—directing Sītā toward recognized guardians/allies, underscoring the king’s concern for publicly acceptable arrangements.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma lists possible refuges for Sītā among his kin and allies, including Vibhīṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Political prudence and concern for order: Rāma frames choices within networks of legitimate protection.