Valmiki Ramayana 2.39.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 32

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

Setting: Ayodhya (palace quarters of Kauśalyā)

Devanagari script

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा कौशल्या हृदयङ्गमम् ।

शुद्धसत्त्वा मुमोचाश्रु सहसा दुःखहर्षजम् ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.39.32

Transliteration

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā kauśalyā hṛdayaṅgamam |

śuddha-sattvā mumocāśru sahasā duḥkha-harṣajam ||32||

Translation

Nang marinig ni Kausalya ang mga salitang tumatagos sa puso ni Sita, siya—na dalisay ang kalooban—ay biglang napaluha, mga luhang isinilang ng lungkot at galak.

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Word by Word

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having heard’
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• हृदयङ्गमम्: heart-stirring
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdayaṃgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘हृदयम् गच्छति’ (going to the heart); वचनम् इति विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शुद्धसत्त्वा: pure-minded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha-sattvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः — ‘शुद्धं सत्त्वं यस्याः’ (one whose mind/nature is pure); कौशल्या इति विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• मुमोच: shed, released
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• अश्रु: tears
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सहसा: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/रीति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly/at once)
• Role: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• दुःखहर्षजम्: arising from grief and joy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha-harṣa-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘दुःखात् हर्षात् च जातम्’ (born of grief and joy); अश्रु इति विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• मुमोचाश्रु = मुमोच + अश्रु (अ + अ → आ)

Context

Listening to the heart-stirring words of Sita, Kausalya with her heart so pure burst instantaneously into tears of joy and grief.

The teaching

A pure heart can hold sorrow and joy together when dharma is honored.

Duties in tension

• Maternal attachment and grief
• Acceptance of dharma-driven exile and royal duty

Ethical theme

Śoka-niyama / dharma-acceptance

How it resolves

Emotional integration: grief tempered by joy in virtue and dharma

For your practice

Models sāttvika bhāva—allowing emotion while remaining anchored; useful for grief-processing with dharmic perspective.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Heart-melting, bittersweet, maternal

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Compassion
• Maternal emotion
• Family bonds

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown through empathetic recognition: Kauśalyā’s tears reflect the moral beauty of Sītā’s resolve and the painful righteousness of enduring hardship for duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s dharmic declaration regarding her husband, Kauśalyā is emotionally moved and responds with tears that mix sorrow at separation and joy at Sītā’s nobility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s purity of heart and compassion—her ability to honor virtue even amidst personal suffering.