Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.39 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 39

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

सा बहून्यमनोज्ञानि वाक्यानि हृदयच्छिदाम्।अहं श्रोष्ये सपत्नीनामवराणां वरा सती।।।।

Transliteration

sā bahūny amanojñāni vākyāni hṛdayacchidām | ahaṃ śroṣye sapatnīnām avarāṇāṃ varā satī ||

Translation

Bien que je sois la reine aînée, je devrai entendre de la part de mes coépouses plus jeunes que moi bien des paroles déplaisantes, qui déchirent le cœur.

Word by Word

• सा: she (I)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with vākyāni

• अमनोज्ञानि: unpleasant
• अमनोज्ञानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-manojña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with vākyāni

• वाक्यानि: words/speeches
• वाक्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• हृदयच्छिदाम्: heart-rending
• हृदयच्छिदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya-chid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: hṛdaya + chid (हृदयम् छिनत्ति इति); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies vākyāni as 'of heart-cutting (kind)'

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रोष्ये: will have to listen / will hear
• श्रोष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सपत्नीनाम्: of co-wives
• सपत्नीनाम्: Apādāna/Source (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अवराणाम्: of the younger/inferior (ones)
• अवराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies sapatnīnām

• वरा: the eldest/best
• वरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to sā/aham

• सती: being (a virtuous lady)
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participial adjective from √as 'to be' via sat; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

I, being the eldest (of the queens) will have to listen to many heart-breaking and unpleasant words from my fellow-wives who are younger to me.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It underscores vāg-dharma (ethics of speech): cruel speech becomes an added injustice in times of misfortune, and Kausalyā anticipates the social harm caused by derisive words.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma’s prospects overturned, Kausalyā foresees humiliation and harsh remarks within the royal household from rival queens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s endurance (kṣānti) is implied—she anticipates insult but frames it as something she must bear rather than retaliate against.