Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 20
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
असत्य स्सर्वलोकेऽस्मिन्सततं सत्कृताः प्रियैः।भर्तारं नानुमन्यन्ते विनिपातगतं स्त्रियः।।2.39.20।।
asatyaḥ sarvaloke ’smin satataṁ satkṛtāḥ priyaiḥ |
bhartāraṁ nānumanyante vinipātagataṁ striyaḥ || 2.39.20 ||
આ લોકમાં, પ્રિયજનોથી સતત સન્માનિત હોવા છતાં, પતિ પર આપત્તિ આવી પડે ત્યારે તેની સાથે રહેવા (અનુસરવા) સંમત ન થતી સ્ત્રીઓ અસત્ય—અવિશ્વાસુ ગણાય છે।
Those women who, although always gratified, do not follow their husband when they fall into misfortune, are regarded as unfaithful.
FAQs
It asserts the Dharma-ideal of steadfast companionship: loyalty is tested not in comfort but in adversity, and abandoning a spouse in misfortune is framed as a breach of truthfulness/faith (satya).
In the context of Rāma’s exile, Sītā is being addressed with traditional counsel about a wife’s conduct, emphasizing constancy toward one’s husband during hardship.
The virtue of fidelity and unwavering commitment (niṣṭhā) in marital duty is emphasized as the expected ideal.
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