Valmiki Ramayana 2.117.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 24

अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः

Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel

Devanagari script

नातो विशिष्टं पश्यामि बान्धवं विमृशन्त्यहम्।सर्वत्र योग्यं वैदेहि तपः कृतमिवाव्ययम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.117.24

Transliteration

nāto viśiṣṭaṃ paśyāmi bāndhavaṃ vimṛśanty aham |

sarvatra yogyaṃ vaidehi tapaḥ kṛtam ivāvyayam ||

Translation

“โอ ไวเทหี เมื่อใคร่ครวญแล้ว ข้าพเจ้าไม่เห็นญาติใดประเสริฐกว่าสวามี—พึ่งพาได้ในทุกกาลทุกสถาน ดุจตบะที่บำเพ็ญแล้วไม่เสื่อมสูญ”

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Word by Word

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

• तु: however/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this way)

• अवगच्छन्ति: understand
• अवगच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुणदोषम्: merit and fault
• गुणदोषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (virtue-and-fault as a pair)

• असत्स्रियः: wicked women
• असत्स्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘wicked women’

• कामवक्तव्यहृदयाः: whose hearts are bent on lustful talk/desire
• कामवक्तव्यहृदयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + वक्तव्य + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘असत्स्रियः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; ‘काम-वक्तव्ये हृदयम् यस्याः’ (hearts set on lustful talk/desire)

• भर्तृनाथाः: having their husband as lord
• भर्तृनाथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘असत्स्रियः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण; ‘भर्ता नाथः यस्याः’ (having husband as lord)

• चरन्ति: behave/wander
• चरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• याः: who (women)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

Context

O Sita, on reflection I know of none who is a better friend than the husband. He, like an imperishable penance, once acquired is never lost.

Characters & Entities

• Anasūyā
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Videha
• Tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as a durable moral bond: marital duty is likened to tapas whose merit is enduring and not easily ‘lost’.

What is the narrative situation?

Anasūyā philosophically strengthens Sītā’s resolve by describing the husband as the most dependable bond in life’s changing conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhṛti (steadfast endurance) supported by reflective discernment (vimarśa).