वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-5, chapter-13, verse-24

नीलनागाभया वेण्या जघनं गतयैकया ।
सुखार्हां दुःखसंतप्तां व्यसनानामकोदिवाम् ॥२४॥

24. nīlanāgābhayā veṇyā jaghanaṃ gatayaikayā ,
sukhārhāṃ duḥkhasaṃtaptāṃ vyasanānāmakodivām.

24. nīlanāgābhayā veṇyā jaghanam gatayā ekayā
sukhārhām duḥkhasaṃtaptām vyasanānām akodivām

24. ekayā nīlanāgābhāyā veṇyā jaghanam gatayā (sā āsīt),
sukhārhām,
duḥkhasaṃtaptām,
vyasanānām akodivām (ca)

24. With a single braid, dark like a serpent, which reached down to her hips, she who deserved happiness was tormented by sorrow and constantly afflicted by misfortunes.

Words meanings summery:

• नीलनागाभया (nīlanāgābhayā) - referring to the color and coiled appearance of Sītā's single braid (like a dark serpent)

• वेण्या (veṇyā) - by her single, unkempt braid, as a sign of mourning (by the braid (of hair))

• जघनम् (jaghanam) - her hip region (hip, buttocks, hinder part)

• गतया (gatayā) - the braid having reached down to her hips (having gone, reached, extended)

• एकया (ekayā) - by a single braid, emphasizing her neglect of personal appearance (by one, by a single)

• सुखार्हाम् (sukhārhām) - Sītā, who is inherently worthy of a joyful life (deserving of happiness, worthy of joy)

• दुःखसंतप्ताम् (duḥkhasaṁtaptām) - Sītā, suffering deeply from her captivity and separation (tormented by sorrow, greatly distressed)

• व्यसनानाम् (vyasanānām) - of the many unfortunate events she has faced (of misfortunes, calamities, adversities)

• अकोदिवाम् (akodivām) - Sītā, having no end or relief from her continuous misfortunes (unaware of relief, not knowing comfort, constantly afflicted)

Words meanings and morphology

नीलनागाभया (nīlanāgābhayā) - referring to the color and coiled appearance of Sītā's single braid (like a dark serpent)

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of nīlanāgābhā

nīlanāgābhā - having the likeness of a dark serpent

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nīla+nāga+ābhā)

• nīla – dark, blue-black
  adjective (masculine)
• nāga – serpent, cobra
  noun (masculine)
• ābhā – luster, resemblance, appearance
  noun (feminine)

वेण्या (veṇyā) - by her single, unkempt braid, as a sign of mourning (by the braid (of hair))

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of veṇī

veṇī - braid of hair, plait

जघनम् (jaghanam) - her hip region (hip, buttocks, hinder part)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jaghana

jaghana - hip, buttocks, hinder part

गतया (gatayā) - the braid having reached down to her hips (having gone, reached, extended)

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of gatā

gatā - gone, reached, extended

Past Passive Participle

From root gam 'to go'

Root: gam (class 1)

एकया (ekayā) - by a single braid, emphasizing her neglect of personal appearance (by one, by a single)

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of ekā

ekā - one, single, alone

सुखार्हाम् (sukhārhām) - Sītā, who is inherently worthy of a joyful life (deserving of happiness, worthy of joy)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of sukhārhā

sukhārhā - deserving of happiness

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sukha+arhā)

• sukha – happiness, joy, comfort
  noun (neuter)
• arhā – deserving, worthy, fit
  adjective (feminine)
  From root arh 'to deserve'
  Root: arh (class 1)

दुःखसंतप्ताम् (duḥkhasaṁtaptām) - Sītā, suffering deeply from her captivity and separation (tormented by sorrow, greatly distressed)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of duḥkhasaṃtaptā

duḥkhasaṁtaptā - tormented by sorrow

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (duḥkha+saṃtaptā)

• duḥkha – suffering, pain, misery
  noun (neuter)
• saṃtaptā – tormented, scorched, distressed
  adjective (feminine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root tap 'to heat, to torment' with prefix sam
  Prefix: sam
  Root: tap (class 1)

व्यसनानाम् (vyasanānām) - of the many unfortunate events she has faced (of misfortunes, calamities, adversities)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of vyasana

vyasana - misfortune, calamity, adversity, distress

From prefix vi-as 'to throw apart, fall asunder'

Prefix: vi

Root: as (class 4)

अकोदिवाम् (akodivām) - Sītā, having no end or relief from her continuous misfortunes (unaware of relief, not knowing comfort, constantly afflicted)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of akodivā

akodivā - not knowing comfort, unaware of relief, without end to suffering

This word is unusual and has varied readings across recensions; contextually understood as 'without comfort/relief from distress'. Potentially 'a' (negation) + 'kodi' (related to end or limit) + 'vā'.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+kodivā)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• kodivā – comfort, relief (hypothetical, inferred from context of 'a-kodivā')
  noun (feminine)

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