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

Devanagari script

तां भुजाभ्यां परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर्वचनमब्रवीत्।अनाचरन्ती कृपणं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मैथिलीम्।।2.39.19।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.19

Transliteration

tāṃ bhujābhyāṃ pariṣvajya śvaśrūr vacanam abravīt | anācarantī kṛpaṇaṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya maithilīm || 2.39.19 ||

Translation

Embracing Maithilī with both arms and kissing her on the forehead, her mother-in-law spoke—though Sītā’s conduct gave no occasion for pity.

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.