Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 25

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स त्वया नावमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो मम।तव दैवतमस्त्वेष निर्धनः सधनोऽपि वा।।2.39.25।।

Transliteration

sa tvayā nāvamantavyaḥ putraḥ pravrājito mama |

tava daivatam astv eṣa nirdhanaḥ sadhano ’pi vā || 2.39.25 ||

Translation

ゆえに、追放されたわが子を汝は侮ってはならぬ。貧しくとも富めるとも、彼を汝の神として敬いなさい。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he/that (son)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• avamantavyaḥ: not to be slighted
• avamantavyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√man (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligatory participle (तव्यत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘should not be disrespected’

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to saḥ

• pravrājitaḥ: exiled
• pravrājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√vraj (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• daivatam: deity/refuge
• daivatam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• astu: let (him) be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/benedictive sense, Loṭ (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirdhanaḥ: poor
• nirdhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirdhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadhanaḥ: wealthy
• sadhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even if
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive ‘even’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

Context

You must not underestimate my son in his exile. You must treat him as your god whether he is wealthy or not.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as unwavering respect and loyalty that does not depend on external fortune; true commitment remains the same in poverty or prosperity.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma’s forest exile confirmed, Sītā is urged to maintain reverence and not let hardship diminish her regard for him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverential fidelity (bhakti/śraddhā toward one’s rightful duty) expressed as constancy regardless of circumstance.