Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 26

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

विज्ञाय वचनं सीता तस्या धर्मार्थसंहितम्।कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेदं श्वश्रूमभिमुखे स्थिताम्।।2.39.26।।

Transliteration

vijñāya vacanaṁ sītā tasyā dharmārthasaṁhitam |

kṛtāñjalir uvācedaṁ śvaśrūm abhimukhe sthitām || 2.39.26 ||

Translation

Nang maunawaan ni Sītā ang mga salitang iyon na kaayon ng dharma at may wastong layon, siya’y nag-anjali at nagsalita, nakatayo sa harap ng kanyang biyenan.

Word by Word

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having understood’

• vacanaṃ: speech/words
• vacanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmārtha-saṃhitam: consistent with dharma and artha
• dharmārtha-saṃhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + artha + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying vacanaṃ; tatpuruṣa: ‘dharmārthena saṃhitaṃ’ (in accordance with dharma and artha)

• kṛtāñjaliḥ: with folded palms
• kṛtāñjaliḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त + noun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग; used for feminine subject by convention), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yasyāḥ’ (with folded hands)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• idaṃ: this
• idaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• śvaśrūm: mother-in-law
• śvaśrūm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhimukhe: facing/in front
• abhimukhe: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial locative ‘in front/facing’

• sthitām: standing
• sthitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying śvaśrūm

Context

Sita who understood the import of these words which were in conformity with dharma and artha, repiled to her mother-in-law facing her with folded palms:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• dharma
• artha

FAQs

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

It models respectful reception of moral instruction: Sītā recognizes guidance rooted in dharma and practical wisdom (artha) and responds with humility.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving counsel about duty and conduct in exile, Sītā prepares to reply formally and respectfully to her mother-in-law.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s humility and discernment—she understands the ethical intent and responds with reverence.