Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 21
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम्।अल्पामप्यापदं प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि।।2.39.21।।
eṣa svabhāvo nārīṇām anubhūya purā sukham |
alpām apy āpadaṁ prāpya duṣyanti prajahaty api || 2.39.21 ||
So, heißt es, ist die Natur der Frauen: Haben sie einst Glück erfahren, so tadeln sie schon bei geringem Unheil—und können sogar verlassen.
Though they have enjoyed all pleasures (with their husbands) earlier, they censure them in the wake of the slightest trouble or even abandon them. This is the nature of women.
FAQs
The verse functions as a warning against fickleness in relationships: Dharma is portrayed as steadiness in adversity rather than attachment only to pleasure.
With exile impending, elders counsel Sītā using conventional moral generalizations to stress that she should not act in a way considered blameworthy—namely, deserting her husband in hardship.
Constancy (sthāiratā) and endurance (kṣānti) in maintaining one’s chosen duty.