Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.33 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 33

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तां प्राञ्जलिरभिक्रम्य मातृमध्येऽतिसत्कृताम्। रामः परमधर्मात्मा मातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.39.33।।

Transliteration

tāṃ prāñjalir abhikramya mātṛmadhye 'tisatkṛtām |

rāmaḥ paramadharmātmā mātaraṃ vākyam abravīt ||2.39.33||

Translation

ਪਰਮ-ਧਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਰਾਮ ਹੱਥ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਆਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਅਤਿ ਸਤਿਕਾਰਯੋਗ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਾਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਨ ਕਿਹਾ।

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘प्राञ्जलिः’ (with joined palms)

• अभिक्रम्य: having approached
• अभिक्रम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√kram (अभि + क्रम् धातु) + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having approached/stepped towards’

• मातृमध्ये: in the midst of (his) mothers
• मातृमध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ-madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘मातॄणां मध्ये’ (in the midst of the mothers)

• अतिसत्कृताम्: highly revered
• अतिसत्कृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + sat√kṛ (सत् + कृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘highly honored’

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमधर्मात्मा: supremely virtuous
• परमधर्मात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama-dharma-ātmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘परमः धर्मात्मा’ (supremely righteous-souled); रामः इति विशेषण

• मातरम्: (his) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Most virtuous Rama approached his mother, that highly revered lady among all his mothers, and with folded hands said:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

It models maryādā (propriety): even amid crisis, Rāma approaches his mother with humility and reverence, embodying dharma through conduct, not merely intention.

What is the narrative situation?

In the scene surrounding the exile, Rāma turns to his mother Kauśalyā and prepares to console and instruct her regarding the coming separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and filial devotion, expressed through folded hands and respectful address.