Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 23

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

Addressed to SitaSetting: Ayodhya (palace quarters)

Devanagari script

न कुलं न कृतं विद्या न दत्तं नापि सङ्ग्रहः ।

स्त्रीणां गृह्णाति हृदयमनित्यहृदया हि ताः ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.23

Transliteration

na kulaṁ na kṛtaṁ vidyā na dattaṁ nāpi saṅgrahaḥ |

strīṇāṁ gṛhṇāti hṛdayam anityahṛdayā hi tāḥ ||23||

Translation

न कुल, न केलेला उपकार, न विद्या, न दान, न साठवलेला धनसंचय—यांपैकी काहीही स्त्रीचे हृदय जिंकत नाही; कारण त्यांची हृदये अनित्य म्हणतात।

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Word by Word

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

• kulaṃ: family/lineage
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• kṛtaṃ: service done/benefit received
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √kṛ)
• Form: Past passive participle used substantively; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• vidyā: learning/education
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• dattaṃ: gift given
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √dā)
• Form: Past passive participle used substantively; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

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

• saṅgrahaḥ: accumulation/wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• strīṇām: of women
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• gṛhṇāti: captures/attracts
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• hṛdayam: heart
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• anitya-hṛdayāḥ: fickle-hearted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anitya + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘anityaṃ hṛdayaṃ yāsām’ (fickle-hearted)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• hi: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निश्चय)

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• na api (नापि)
• hṛdayam anitya- (हृदयमनित्य-)
• anitya-hṛdayāḥ hi (अनित्यहृदया हि)

Context

Neither family traditions nor benefits received, nor education nor affection nor gifts nor even accumulated wealth attract women's hearts. Their minds are unstable indeed.

The teaching

Worldly credentials do not guarantee loyalty; anchor conduct in dharma, not in external assurances.

Duties in tension

• Reliance on worldly supports (artha, status) vs. reliance on dharma and fidelity
• Emotional security vs. principled commitment amid exile

Ethical theme

Nīti (practical ethics) within gṛhastha-dharma

How it resolves

Reorientation from externals to dharmic steadfastness

For your practice

Encourages non-dependence on externals and cultivation of inner steadiness (abhyāsa, vairāgya).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Didactic, grave, disillusioned

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Didactic counsel
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

The implied ethical teaching is to anchor one’s conduct not in material incentives or social advantages but in steadfast Dharma—constancy and truth of commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse belongs to a set of admonitions delivered in the tense moment around exile, aiming to strengthen Sītā’s resolve toward faithful companionship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (niṣṭhā) rather than attachment to wealth, status, or comfort.