Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 17

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma

Devanagari script

सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम्।भूषयामास गात्राणि तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः।।2.39.17।।

Transliteration

sā sujātā sujātāni vaidehī prasthitā vanam | bhūṣayāmāsa gātrāṇi tair vicitrair vibhūṣaṇaiḥ || 2.39.17 ||

Translation

毗提希出身高贵，既将启程入林，便以那些繁丽耀目的饰物装点其秀美肢体。

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुजाता: well-born
• सुजाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुजाता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (well-born)

• सुजातानि: beautiful/well-formed
• सुजातानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; गात्राणि इति विशेषण

• वैदेही: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (apposition to सा)

• प्रस्थिता: set out/ready to depart
• प्रस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (ready/setting out)

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• भूषयामास: adorned
• भूषयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (intensive/periphrastic perfect usage in epic)

• गात्राणि: limbs
• गात्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विभूषणैः इति विशेषण (those)

• विचित्रैः: variegated/sparkling
• विचित्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विभूषणैः इति विशेषण

• विभूषणैः: ornaments
• विभूषणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

That princess of noble birth from Videha adorned her beautiful limbs with the sparkling ornaments and got ready to depart for the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī/Maithilī)
• forest
• ornaments

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in chosen duty: Sītā prepares to share her husband’s fate, embodying commitment to truth and marital dharma even as exile approaches.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā receives valuables from the treasury and readies herself physically for departure to the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s resolve and composure—readiness to face hardship without abandoning her dharmic choice.