Valmiki Ramayana 2.117.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 23

अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः

Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel

Devanagari script

दुश्शीलः कामवृत्तो वा धनैर्वा परिवर्जितः।स्त्रीणामार्यस्वभावानां परमं दैवतं पतिः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.117.23

Transliteration

duśśīlaḥ kāmavṛtto vā dhanair vā parivarjitaḥ |

strīṇām āryasvabhāvānāṃ paramaṃ daivataṃ patiḥ ||

Translation

“สำหรับสตรีผู้มีอริยนิสัย สวามีเป็นดุจเทวะสูงสุด—แม้เขาจะประพฤติชั่ว หมกมุ่นในกาม หรือขัดสนทรัพย์ก็ตาม”

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अतः: than this/from this
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अपादाने अव्यय (from this/than this)

• विशिष्टम्: superior
• विशिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘बान्धवम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बान्धवम्: kinsman/relative
• बान्धवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विमृशन्ती: reflecting/considering
• विमृशन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (reflecting)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: everywhere)

• योग्यम्: fit/befitting
• योग्यम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वैदेहि: O Vaidehi
• वैदेहि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (performed)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (like/as)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तपः/कृतम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (imperishable)

Context

For a woman of noble nature her husband, whether he be licentious or of bad character or devoid of riches, is her supreme lord.

Characters & Entities

• Anasūyā
• Sītā
• Husband (pati)
• Daivata (object of reverence)

FAQs

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

It teaches a conservative dharma-ideal where marital reverence is maintained independent of the husband’s external qualities like wealth or residence.

What is the narrative situation?

Anasūyā continues her counsel to Sītā, articulating norms of pativratā-dharma as understood in the epic’s moral world.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā (reverent commitment) and unwavering adherence to one’s chosen duty.