Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 39

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

वचनं राघवस्यैतध्दर्मयुक्तं समाहितम्।शुश्रुवुस्ताः स्त्रियंस्सर्वा श्शोकोपहतचेतसः।।2.39.39।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.39

Transliteration

vacanaṃ rāghavasyaitad dharma-yuktaṃ samāhitam | śuśruvus tāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ śokopahata-cetasaḥ || 2.39.39 ||

Translation

Todas aquellas mujeres, con el corazón abatido por el dolor, escucharon estas palabras de Rāghava, justas conforme al dharma y dichas con serenidad.

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Word by Word

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

• राघवस्य: of Raghava (Rama)
• राघवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषण

• धर्मयुक्तम्: righteous
• धर्मयुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed with dharma’; वचनम् इति विशेषण

• समाहितम्: well-composed, balanced
• समाहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā√dhā (सम् + आ + धा धातु) + kta
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘well-composed/collected’; वचनम् इति विशेषण

• शुश्रुवुः: heard
• शुश्रुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘all’; स्त्रियः इति विशेषण

• शोकोपहतचेतसः: with minds afflicted by grief
• शोकोपहतचेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-upahata-cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘शोकेन उपहतं चेतः यसाम्’ (whose minds are afflicted by grief); स्त्रियः इति विशेषण

Context

Only because of Kaikeyi who resorted to this deception in pursuit of selfish ends so many people are made to suffer.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as inner steadiness: righteous speech is marked not only by content but by samādhāna (composed clarity), even in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma asks forgiveness and bids farewell, the palace women—overcome with sorrow—hear his calm, dharma-aligned words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-control and moral clarity; the women’s deep attachment and grief.