Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 21

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम्।अल्पामप्यापदं प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि।।2.39.21।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.21

Transliteration

eṣa svabhāvo nārīṇām anubhūya purā sukham |

alpām apy āpadaṁ prāpya duṣyanti prajahaty api || 2.39.21 ||

Translation

So, heißt es, ist die Natur der Frauen: Haben sie einst Glück erfahren, so tadeln sie schon bei geringem Unheil—und können sogar verlassen.

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Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• svabhāvaḥ: nature
• svabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nārīṇām: of women
• nārīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anubhūya: having experienced
• anubhūya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√bhū (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having experienced/enjoyed’

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sukham: happiness/pleasure
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• alpām: small
• alpām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘āpadaṃ’

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Particle (निपात)

• āpadaṃ: calamity/trouble
• āpadaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpya: having met/obtained
• prāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having obtained/reached’

• duṣyanti: they become hostile/censure
• duṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √duṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prajahati: abandons
• prajahati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√hā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); used generically (collective sense)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Particle (निपात)

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a warning against fickleness in relationships: Dharma is portrayed as steadiness in adversity rather than attachment only to pleasure.

What is the narrative situation?

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.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy (sthāiratā) and endurance (kṣānti) in maintaining one’s chosen duty.