Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.32 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 32

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा कौशल्या हृदयङ्गमम्।शुद्धसत्त्वा मुमोचाश्रु सहसा दुःखहर्षजम्।।2.39.32।।

Transliteration

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā kauśalyā hṛdayaṅgamam |

śuddha-sattvā mumocāśru sahasā duḥkha-harṣajam ||2.39.32||

Translation

Al oír las palabras de Sītā, tan conmovedoras, Kauśalyā—de ánimo puro—derramó de pronto lágrimas nacidas a la vez del dolor y del gozo.

Word by Word

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having heard’

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• कौशल्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हृदयङ्गमम्: heart-stirring
• हृदयङ्गमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdayaṃgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘हृदयम् गच्छति’ (going to the heart); वचनम् इति विशेषण

• शुद्धसत्त्वा: pure-minded
• शुद्धसत्त्वा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha-sattvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः — ‘शुद्धं सत्त्वं यस्याः’ (one whose mind/nature is pure); कौशल्या इति विशेषण

• मुमोच: shed, released
• मुमोच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अश्रु: tears
• अश्रु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/रीति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly/at once)

• दुःखहर्षजम्: arising from grief and joy
• दुःखहर्षजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha-harṣa-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘दुःखात् हर्षात् च जातम्’ (born of grief and joy); अश्रु इति विशेषण

Context

Listening to the heart-stirring words of Sita, Kausalya with her heart so pure burst instantaneously into tears of joy and grief.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown through empathetic recognition: Kauśalyā’s tears reflect the moral beauty of Sītā’s resolve and the painful righteousness of enduring hardship for duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s dharmic declaration regarding her husband, Kauśalyā is emotionally moved and responds with tears that mix sorrow at separation and joy at Sītā’s nobility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s purity of heart and compassion—her ability to honor virtue even amidst personal suffering.