Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 32

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

वन्दितव्याश्च ते नित्यं या श्शेषा मम मातरः।स्नेह प्रणयसम्भोगै स्समा हि मम मातरः।।।।

Transliteration

vanditavyāś ca te nityaṃ yāḥ śeṣā mama mātaraḥ |

sneha-praṇaya-sambhogaiḥ samā hi mama mātaraḥ ||

Translation

અને મારી બાકી રહેલી માતાઓને પણ તું સદા વંદનીય માનીને માન આપજે; સ્નેહ, પ્રણય અને સેવાભાવમાં તો મારી સર્વ માતાઓ સમાન જ છે.

Word by Word

• वन्दितव्याः: should be saluted
• वन्दितव्याः: Karya (कार्य/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be saluted’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ते: by you/to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (तुभ्यम्-अर्थे)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala (काल/Frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्ययप्रयोग; कालवाचक (always)

• याः: who/which
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• शेषाः: remaining/other
• शेषाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मातरः)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मातरः: mothers
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्नेहप्रणयसम्भोगैः: with love, affection, and service
• स्नेहप्रणयसम्भोगैः: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणय (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (with love, affection, and service/attendance)

• समाः: equal
• समाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मातरः: mothers
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Now Bharata is the king of the country and head of the family. Therefore, you should never do anything disagreeable to him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Kauśalyā
• Kaikeyī
• Sumitrā

FAQs

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

Dharma in the household is impartial reverence: one must honor all parental figures, not selectively, sustaining unity and dignity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma sets standards for Sītā’s conduct in the palace during his absence, extending respect to all queens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-mindedness and humility: treating all elders with equal regard in speech, service, and demeanor.