Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 31

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

साहमेवं गता श्रेष्ठा श्रुतधर्मपरावरा।आर्ये किमवमन्येऽहं स्त्रीणां भर्ता हि दैवतम्।।2.39.31।।

Transliteration

sāham evaṃ gatā śreṣṭhā śrutadharma-parāvarā |

ārye kim avamanye 'haṃ strīṇāṃ bhartā hi daivatam ||2.39.31||

Translation

Élevée dans ces idéaux et instruite dans toute l’étendue du dharma, comment pourrais-je, ô noble dame, jamais le mépriser ? Car pour une femme, l’époux est véritablement sa divinité.

Word by Word

• सा: she / that (woman)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• गता: having become / having gone
• गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘gone/come to be’

• श्रेष्ठा: excellent, eminent
• श्रेष्ठा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रुतधर्मपरावरा: instructed in duties, both higher and lower
• श्रुतधर्मपरावरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruta-dharma-para-avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘श्रुताः धर्माः परा अवरा च यस्याः/यया’ (instructed in higher and lower duties); विशेषण

• आर्ये: O noble lady
• आर्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• किम्: why? / what (reason)?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• अवमन्ये: (should) I disrespect / slight
• अवमन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√man (अव + मन् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-सूचक (indeed/for)

• दैवतम्: a deity, god
• दैवतम्: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Context

Instructed about my obligations by an eminent lady (her mother?), imbued with these ideals, how can I, O exalted one, underestimate him (my husband)? For a woman the husband is a god indeed!

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

The verse frames fidelity and reverence toward one’s spouse as a dharmic commitment grounded in education and tradition, presenting it as a truth (satya) Sītā will not violate.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā responds to Kauśalyā, defending her unwavering stance toward Rāma and rejecting any suggestion of separating her welfare from his destiny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s integrity and constancy—holding to what she has learned as dharma despite impending hardship.