Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 25

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

Addressed to SitaSetting: Ayodhya (palace)Pre-departure counsel before forest-exile

Devanagari script

स त्वया नावमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो मम ।

तव दैवतमस्त्वेष निर्धनः सधनोऽपि वा ॥२५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.25

Transliteration

sa tvayā nāvamantavyaḥ putraḥ pravrājito mama |

tava daivatam astv eṣa nirdhanaḥ sadhano ’pi vā ||25||

Translation

Darum sollst du ihn nicht verachten — meinen Sohn, der in die Verbannung gesandt wurde. Er sei dir wie eine Gottheit, ob arm oder reich.

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he/that (son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tvayā: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• avamantavyaḥ: not to be slighted
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√man (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligatory participle (तव्यत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘should not be disrespected’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया; विधेय)

• putraḥ: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to saḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• pravrājitaḥ: exiled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√vraj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• mama: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• tava: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• daivatam: deity/refuge
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• astu: let (him) be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/benedictive sense, Loṭ (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

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

• nirdhanaḥ: poor
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirdhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• sadhanaḥ: wealthy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• api: even if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive ‘even’
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• na avamantavyaḥ (नावमन्तव्यः)
• daivatam astu eṣaḥ (दैवतमस्त्वेष)
• sadhanaḥ api (सधनोऽपि)

Context

You must not underestimate my son in his exile. You must treat him as your god whether he is wealthy or not.

The teaching

Honor the dharmic person independent of fortune; reverence must not fluctuate with wealth or deprivation.

Duties in tension

• Respect for husband’s dignity vs. hardship-induced frustration in exile
• Attachment to royal comfort vs. duty to honor the exiled righteous

Ethical theme

Pativratā-dharma / nīti regarding respect and dignity

How it resolves

Explicit injunction (niyama) to reverence

Devotion and practice

Transforms service (sevā) into worship; supports bhāva of īśvara-buddhi toward one’s dharmic responsibilities.

Deity praised

Rāma (as husband and daivatam in context)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

daivatam astu eṣaḥ (contextual devotional formula)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Resolute, protective, reverent

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Satya
• Pativratā
• Reverence

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as unwavering respect and loyalty that does not depend on external fortune; true commitment remains the same in poverty or prosperity.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma’s forest exile confirmed, Sītā is urged to maintain reverence and not let hardship diminish her regard for him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverential fidelity (bhakti/śraddhā toward one’s rightful duty) expressed as constancy regardless of circumstance.