Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 28
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः · Dasaratha’s Lament, Sumantra’s Commission, and Sita’s Vow of Marital Dharma
Spoken by SitaSetting: Ayodhya (palace)
न मामसज्जनेनार्या समानयितुमर्हति ।
धर्माद्विचलितुं नाहमलं चन्द्रादिव प्रभा ॥२८॥
na mām asajjanenāryā samānayitum arhati |
dharmād vicalituṁ nāham alaṁ candrād iva prabhā ||28||
ຂໍທ່ານນາງຜູ້ປະເສີດ ຢ່ານຳຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄປທຽບກັບຄົນຊົ່ວເລີຍ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ອາດເບື້ອນອອກຈາກທຳມະໄດ້ ເຫມືອນຮັດສະມີທີ່ບໍ່ເຄີຍຈາກດວງຈັນ
Sandhi Notes
- mām asajjanena āryā (मामसज्जनेनार्या)
- samānayitum arhati (समानयितुमर्हति)
- dharmāt vicalitum (धर्माद्विचलितुं)
- na aham alam (नाहमलं)
- candrāt iva (चन्द्रादिव)
My worshipful mother-in-law should not equate me with wicked people (women). I cannot swerve from the path of virtue like radiance which never leaves the Moon.
The teaching
Dharma is not situational convenience; it is an inseparable radiance of character.
Duties in tension
- Responding to an elder’s insinuation vs maintaining humility
- Self-defense of character vs avoidance of harsh speech
- Commitment to dharma vs social labeling/comparison
- Ethical theme
- Virtue ethics (śīla) and truthfulness
- How it resolves
- Assertive clarification without abandoning respectful address ('āryā')
For your practice
Supports satya-niṣṭhā and dharma-niṣṭhā practices; useful for japa/meditation on steadfastness under accusation.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Unshaken, self-possessed, principled
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Maryada
- Self-integrity
- Simile
Like prabhā inseparable from candra, dharma is presented as intrinsic to one’s svarūpa—echoing the idea of svabhāva-niṣṭhā.
Chāndogya’s satya-centered identity (satya as defining principle) resonates with the claim of non-deviation from dharma.
- Kaikeyi and Sita
- Elder queen admonishing/accusing; younger queen responding (defensive-respectful)
- Sita and Dharma
- Self-identification with unwavering dharma (steadfast)
- Sita and Rama
- Wife safeguarding husband-centered virtue by rejecting 'wicked' comparison (protective-devoted)
Rāmāyaṇa 2.27-2.30 (Sītā’s dharma arguments: steadfastness, refusal to be deterred); Rāmāyaṇa 5.21-5.22 (Sītā in Aśoka-vana asserting chastity and resolve)
Vedic/Itihāsa use of candra-prabhā inseparability as a stock simile for intrinsic qualities
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated motif of dharma as non-negotiable identity for Rāma and Sītā
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Firm udātta on 'धर्माद्विचलितुं' and 'चन्द्रादिव'
FAQs
Dharma is presented as unwavering moral identity: Sītā asserts that righteousness is intrinsic to her, not contingent on circumstance or suspicion.
Sītā answers protective, cautionary counsel by affirming her steadfastness and refusing any comparison with unfaithful conduct.
Integrity and steadfastness (dharma-niṣṭhā), expressed through the moon-and-radiance simile to show inseparability from virtue.
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