वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-2, chapter-52, verse-23

जानकी तु महाराज निःश्वसन्ती तपस्विनी ।
भूतोपहतचित्तेव विष्ठिता वृष्मृता स्थिता ॥२३॥

23. jānakī tu mahārāja niḥśvasantī tapasvinī ,
bhūtopahatacitteva viṣṭhitā vṛṣmṛtā sthitā.

23. jānakī tu mahārāja niḥśvasantī tapasvinī
bhūtopahatacittā iva viṣṭhitā vṛṣmṛtā sthitā

23. tu mahārāja jānakī niḥśvasantī tapasvinī
bhūtopahatacittā iva vṛṣmṛtā viṣṭhitā sthitā

23. But, O great king, Jānakī, sighing and pitiable, stood there as if her mind were afflicted by a spirit, appearing stunned and motionless.

Words meanings summery:

• जानकी (jānakī) - Sītā, daughter of Janaka. (Jānakī (Sītā))

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

• महाराज (mahārāja) - O King Dasharatha! (O great king!)

• निःश्वसन्ती (niḥśvasantī) - sighing, breathing out, lamenting

• तपस्विनी (tapasvinī) - pitiable woman, ascetic woman, suffering woman

• भूतोपहतचित्ता (bhūtopahatacittā) - with a mind afflicted by a spirit/ghost

• इव (iva) - as if, like, similar to

• विष्ठिता (viṣṭhitā) - stood, situated, remained

• वृष्मृता (vṛṣmṛtā) - Stunned and motionless, akin to a lifeless or heavy object. (Often emended to 'vṛkṣamūrtā' 'like a tree-form' in critical editions). ((unclear; possibly 'stunned/motionless as if dead or heavy'))

• स्थिता (sthitā) - stood, remained, situated

Words meanings and morphology

जानकी (jānakī) - Sītā, daughter of Janaka. (Jānakī (Sītā))

(proper noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of jānakī

jānakī - daughter of Janaka, Sītā

Feminine form derived from 'janaka' (father).

Note: Subject of the verse.

तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

Conjunction/particle.

Note: Provides a mild contrast or emphasis.

महाराज (mahārāja) - O King Dasharatha! (O great king!)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of mahārāja

mahārāja - great king, emperor

Karmadhāraya compound: 'mahā' (great) + 'rājan' (king).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahā+rājan)

• mahā – great, large, powerful
  adjective (feminine)
  Feminine form of 'mahat'. Used as the first part of compounds.
• rājan – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)
  Root 'rāj' (to shine, rule) + 'an' suffix.
  Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Addressed to King Dasharatha.

निःश्वसन्ती (niḥśvasantī) - sighing, breathing out, lamenting

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of niḥśvasant

niḥśvasant - sighing, breathing out

Present Active Participle

Formed from 'niḥ-' (prefix) + root 'śvas' (to breathe) + 'śatṛ' suffix, feminine 'ī'.

Prefix: niḥ

Root: śvas (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'jānakī'.

तपस्विनी (tapasvinī) - pitiable woman, ascetic woman, suffering woman

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of tapasvin

tapasvin - ascetic, devotee, suffering, pitiable

Feminine form of 'tapasvin' (one who performs 'tapas').

Note: Agrees with 'jānakī'.

भूतोपहतचित्ता (bhūtopahatacittā) - with a mind afflicted by a spirit/ghost

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of bhūtopahatacitta

bhūtopahatacitta - having a mind afflicted by a spirit

Bahuvrīhi compound: 'bhūta' (spirit) + 'upahata' (afflicted) + 'citta' (mind).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (bhūta+upahata+citta)

• bhūta – being, creature, ghost, element, past
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'bhū' (to be) + 'kta' suffix. Here, likely refers to a disembodied spirit or ghost.
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• upahata – afflicted, struck, harmed, damaged
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From 'upa-' (prefix) + root 'han' (to strike, kill) + 'kta' suffix.
  Prefix: upa
  Root: han (class 2)
• citta – mind, thought, consciousness
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'cit' (to perceive, know) + 'ta' suffix.
  Root: cit (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'jānakī'.

इव (iva) - as if, like, similar to

(indeclinable)

Particle expressing comparison.

Note: Forms a simile.

विष्ठिता (viṣṭhitā) - stood, situated, remained

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of viṣṭhita

viṣṭhita - stood, situated, remained

Past Passive Participle

Formed from 'vi-' (prefix) + root 'sthā' (to stand) + 'kta' suffix.

Prefix: vi

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Describes Jānakī's posture.

वृष्मृता (vṛṣmṛtā) - Stunned and motionless, akin to a lifeless or heavy object. (Often emended to 'vṛkṣamūrtā' 'like a tree-form' in critical editions). ((unclear; possibly 'stunned/motionless as if dead or heavy'))

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vṛṣmṛta

vṛṣmṛta - (highly unusual/problematic word form; possibly variant of 'vṛkṣamūrtā' meaning 'like a tree-form' or a descriptive of a heavy, immobile state)

The etymology and standard meaning of 'vṛṣmṛta' are obscure in classical Sanskrit literature. It is often considered a textual variant/error for 'vṛkṣamūrtā' ('tree-like form') or 'vismṛtā' ('forgotten'). Given the context of a mind afflicted by a spirit, an interpretation of 'stunned' or 'motionless' is plausible, drawing on a sense of lifelessness or heaviness implied by the sound.

Note: Agrees with 'jānakī'.

स्थिता (sthitā) - stood, remained, situated

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sthita

sthita - stood, remained, situated, existing

Past Passive Participle

Formed from root 'sthā' (to stand) + 'kta' suffix.

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Reinforces 'viṣṭhitā', emphasizing immobility or fixed state. Agrees with 'jānakī'.

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