वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-3, chapter-35, verse-19

प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि प्रियतरा भार्या नित्यमनुव्रता ।
दीप्तस्येव हुताशस्य शिखा सीता सुमध्यमा ॥१९॥

19. prāṇebhyo'pi priyatarā bhāryā nityamanuvratā ,
dīptasyeva hutāśasya śikhā sītā sumadhyamā.

19. prāṇebhyaḥ api priyatarā bhāryā nityam anuvratā
| dīptasya iva hutāśasya śikhā sītā sumadhyamā

19. sumadhyamā sītā prāṇebhyaḥ api priyatarā nityam
anuvratā bhāryā dīptasya hutāśasya śikhā iva

19. Sītā, the slender-waisted, is a wife who is dearer even than life (prāṇa) itself, and ever-devoted, like the blazing flame of a fire.

Words meanings summery:

• प्राणेभ्यः (prāṇebhyaḥ) - than the life-breaths, than lives

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• प्रियतरा (priyatarā) - dearer, more beloved

• भार्या (bhāryā) - wife

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

• अनुव्रता (anuvratā) - devoted, faithful, following vows

• दीप्तस्य (dīptasya) - of the blazing, of the shining

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• हुताशस्य (hutāśasya) - of the fire, of Agni

• शिखा (śikhā) - flame, crest, topknot

• सीता (sītā) - Sītā (proper name)

• सुमध्यमा (sumadhyamā) - slender-waisted, graceful

Words meanings and morphology

प्राणेभ्यः (prāṇebhyaḥ) - than the life-breaths, than lives

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, plural of prāṇa

prāṇa - breath, life, vital air, life-force

From pra-an (to breathe)

Prefix: pra

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Used with comparative 'priyatarā' meaning 'dearer than'.

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes the comparison: 'even more beloved than life itself'.

प्रियतरा (priyatarā) - dearer, more beloved

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of priyatara

priyatara - dearer, more beloved, very dear

Comparative degree of priya (dear) with suffix -tara

Note: Agrees with bhāryā and Sītā.

भार्या (bhāryā) - wife

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of bhāryā

bhāryā - wife, she who is to be supported/maintained

Gerundive/Potential Passive Participle

From root bhṛ (to bear, support) + -ya (kṛtya suffix), feminine form

Root: bhṛ (class 1)

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

(indeclinable)

Adverbial use of nitya

Note: Modifies 'anuvratā'.

अनुव्रता (anuvratā) - devoted, faithful, following vows

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of anuvratā

anuvratā - devoted, faithful, following vows, obedient

Feminine of anuvrata, compound of anu (after, along) and vrata (vow, religious observance)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (anu+vrata)

• anu – after, along, following, with
  indeclinable
• vrata – vow, religious observance, sacred duty, rule
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with bhāryā and Sītā.

दीप्तस्य (dīptasya) - of the blazing, of the shining

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dīpta

dīpta - blazing, shining, ignited, brilliant, inflamed

Past Passive Participle

From root dīp (to shine, blaze)

Root: dīp (class 4)

Note: Agrees with 'hutāśasya'.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

हुताशस्य (hutāśasya) - of the fire, of Agni

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of hutāśa

hutāśa - fire, Agni (lit. 'eater of offerings')

Compound of huta (offered) and aśa (eater)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (huta+aśa)

• huta – offered, sacrificed (as an oblation)
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From root hu (to offer)
  Root: hu (class 3)
• aśa – eater, consumer
  noun (masculine)
  From root aś (to eat, consume)
  Root: aś (class 9)

Note: Literally 'eater of offerings'.

शिखा (śikhā) - flame, crest, topknot

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śikhā

śikhā - flame, crest, topknot, peak, point

Note: The subject of the comparison.

सीता (sītā) - Sītā (proper name)

(proper noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sītā

sītā - Sītā (proper name of Janaka's daughter, Rama's wife); furrow

सुमध्यमा (sumadhyamā) - slender-waisted, graceful

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sumadhyamā

sumadhyamā - slender-waisted, having a beautiful waist (epithet for women)

Feminine of sumadhyama, compound of su (good, beautiful) and madhyama (middle)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (su+madhyama)

• su – good, well, beautiful, very
  indeclinable
• madhyama – middle, central, intermediate
  adjective

Note: Agrees with Sītā.