Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 26

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

Setting: Ayodhya (palace quarters, before Kausalyā)Pre-departure moment before exile

Devanagari script

विज्ञाय वचनं सीता तस्या धर्मार्थसंहितम् ।

कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं श्वश्रूमभिमुखे स्थिताम् ॥२६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.26

Transliteration

vijñāya vacanaṁ sītā tasyā dharmārthasaṁhitam |

kṛtāñjalir uvācedaṁ śvaśrūm abhimukhe sthitām ||26||

Translation

Als Sītā erkannte, dass jene Worte mit Dharma und kluger Absicht verbunden waren, sprach sie, die Hände im Añjali gefaltet, dies, vor ihrer Schwiegermutter stehend.

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Word by Word

• vijñāya: having understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having understood’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vacanaṃ: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sītā: Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• dharmārtha-saṃhitam: consistent with dharma and artha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + artha + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vacanaṃ; tatpuruṣa: ‘dharmārthena saṃhitaṃ’ (in accordance with dharma and artha)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kṛtāñjaliḥ: with folded palms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त + noun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग; used for feminine subject by convention), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yasyāḥ’ (with folded hands)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• uvāca: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• idaṃ: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• śvaśrūm: mother-in-law
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abhimukhe: facing/in front
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial locative ‘in front/facing’
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)

• sthitām: standing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying śvaśrūm
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• dharmārtha-saṃhitam (धर्मार्थसंहितम्)
• kṛtāñjaliḥ uvāca idaṃ (कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं)
• śvaśrūm abhimukhe (श्वश्रूमभिमुखे)

Context

Sita who understood the import of these words which were in conformity with dharma and artha, repiled to her mother-in-law facing her with folded palms:

The teaching

Right counsel is received with discernment and reverence; humility precedes righteous speech and action.

Ethical theme

Vinaya / sadācāra (conduct toward elders)

How it resolves

Acceptance of dharmic instruction with humility

For your practice

Models añjali, śraddhā, and receptive humility—foundational for bhakti and for guru/elder-oriented discipline.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Composed, dutiful, resolute

Themes

• Dharma
• Artha
• Maryada
• Respect
• Family ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• dharma
• artha

FAQs

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

It models respectful reception of moral instruction: Sītā recognizes guidance rooted in dharma and practical wisdom (artha) and responds with humility.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving counsel about duty and conduct in exile, Sītā prepares to reply formally and respectfully to her mother-in-law.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s humility and discernment—she understands the ethical intent and responds with reverence.