Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 11

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

एवं मन्ये गुणवतां गुणानां फलमुच्यते।पित्रा मात्रा च यत्साधुर्वीरो निर्वास्यते वनम्।।2.39.11।।

Transliteration

evaṃ manye guṇavatāṃ guṇānāṃ phalam ucyate | pitrā mātrā ca yat sādhur vīro nirvāsyate vanam || 2.39.11 ||

Translation

గుణవంతుల గుణాలకు ‘ఫలం’ ఇదేనని నేను భావిస్తున్నాను—ఇంత ధర్మనిష్ఠుడైన వీరపుత్రుడు తన తండ్రి, తల్లి చేతనే వనవాసానికి పంపబడుతున్నాడు।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/indeed
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक/निश्चयार्थक (manner/emphasis)

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• गुणवताम्: of the virtuous (persons)
• गुणवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• गुणानाम्: of virtues
• गुणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• फलम्: fruit/reward
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• उच्यते: is said/is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• पित्रा: by the father
• पित्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• मात्रा: by the mother
• मात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• यत्: since/because
• यत्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (indeclinable relative), हेत्वर्थे/यत्-कारण (since/because)

• साधुः: a good man/pious one
• साधुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• वीरः: heroic man
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular), साधुः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणभावे (in apposition/qualifying)

• निर्वास्यते: is banished
• निर्वास्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + निर् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), णिच्-प्रत्ययार्थक causative base (nir-vāsayati) → passive

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular), गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal as object)

Context

That the pious and heroic son is banished by his parents to the forest is, I think, the reward to the virtuous for his virtues.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma
• father (Daśaratha)
• mother (Kaushalyā, implied)
• forest

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the paradox of dharma in the world: virtue does not always yield immediate comfort; righteousness may be tested through suffering, yet remains the standard of truth and conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

As arrangements for exile proceed, Sumantra reflects bitterly on the irony that a righteous hero like Rāma is being sent to the forest by his own parents.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s goodness and heroism are affirmed, while Sumantra’s moral sensitivity and grief at injustice are emphasized.