Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 19

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

Setting: Ayodhya (royal palace/inner apartments of queens)

Devanagari script

तां भुजाभ्यां परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर्वचनमब्रवीत् ।

अनाचरन्ती कृपणं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मैथिलीम् ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.19

Transliteration

tāṃ bhujābhyāṃ pariṣvajya śvaśrūr vacanam abravīt |

anācarantī kṛpaṇaṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya maithilīm ||19||

Translation

فاحتضنتها حماتُها بذراعيها وقبَّلت مَيثِلي على جبينها، ثم خاطبتها—مع أنّ سيتا لم يكن في سلوكها ما يدعو إلى الشفقة.

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Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• भुजाभ्याम्: with (her) two arms
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन (dual)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वज् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुषङ्ग)

• श्वश्रूः: mother-in-law
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वचनम्: words/speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• अनाचरन्ती: not acting (so)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु) + अन् (निषेध)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; श्वश्रूः इति विशेषण (not behaving/without acting)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कृपणम्: pitiably/with compassion
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: pitiably/compassionately)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/forehead
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• उपाघ्राय: having kissed/smelled (in affection)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्रा (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल; (to smell/kiss respectfully)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुषङ्ग)

• मैथिलीम्: Maithilī (Sītā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• श्वश्रूर्वचनम् = श्वश्रूः + वचनम्
• वचनमब्रवीत् = वचनम् + अब्रवीत्
• मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय = मूर्ध्नि + उपाघ्राय

Context

Kausalya, Sita's mother-in-law, took her in her arms, embraced her, kissed her on the forehead, and said to her who conducted herself without evoking any pity.

The teaching

When events cannot be altered, dharma expresses itself as compassionate support and dignified speech toward the blameless.

Duties in tension

• Elder’s duty to uphold royal dharma and accept the decree
• Mother’s duty to protect her son’s household and comfort the daughter-in-law

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma (familial duty/compassion)

How it resolves

Consolation/benediction within constraint

For your practice

Practice of karuṇā and steadiness: offering comfort without weakening the other’s resolve; cultivating vātsalya as a sattvic virtue.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Maternal, consoling, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Family duty
• Maryada
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaushalyā (śvaśrū, implied as Rāma’s mother)
• Sītā (Maithilī)

FAQs

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

Family dharma expressed as compassion and blessing: elders uphold tenderness and moral support, especially when the righteous face undeserved suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaushalyā embraces and blesses Sītā as she is about to leave for the forest; the narrator notes Sītā’s steady demeanor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s self-possessed fortitude (not seeking pity) and Kaushalyā’s maternal compassion and protective affection.