Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 89

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

सुराघटसहस्रेण मांसभूतौदनेन च।यक्ष्ये त्वां प्रयता देवि पुरीं पुनरुपागता।।2.52.89।।

Transliteration

surāghaṭasahasreṇa māṃsabhūtaudanena ca | yakṣye tvāṃ prayatā devi purīṃ punar upāgatā || 2.52.89 ||

Translation

“女神啊，待我再回到城中（阿逾陀 Ayodhyā），身心清净、持戒自律之时，我将以千罐苏罗酒（surā）并以肉食所烹之熟食供品来祭礼供奉你。”

Word by Word

• surā-ghaṭa-sahasreṇa: with a thousand pots of surā
• surā-ghaṭa-sahasreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक) + ghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'with a thousand pots of surā (liquor/nectar)'; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular (as a collective instrument)

• māṃsa-bhūta-odanena: with meat-preparation (meat-rice)
• māṃsa-bhūta-odanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + odana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'with rice/food (odana) that has become meat-like / consisting of meat'; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• yakṣye: I will worship/sacrifice to
• yakṣye: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Ātmanepada; 1st person, Singular

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative, Singular

• prayatā: purified/with restraint
• prayatā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-yata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'purified/intent, self-controlled'; qualifies speaker (Sītā)

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• purīm: the city (Ayodhyā)
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• upāgatā: having reached
• upāgatā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√gam (धातu)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त) from upa-ā-√gam; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'having reached/returned to'

Context

O Devi! after my return to Ayodhya purified by my austerities, I shall worship you by offering a thousand pots of nectar and food in the form of meat.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Gaṅgā
• Ayodhyā (purī)
• surā (offering substance)

FAQs

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

Satya and vrata: Sītā binds herself to truthfulness through a vow—ethical integrity is shown by committing to worship and offerings upon successful return.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing her address to Gaṅgā while crossing, Sītā specifies further offerings she will make after returning to Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) expressed through vowed worship—she responds to divine protection not with mere words but with a pledged act.