Valmiki Ramayana 2.43.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 12

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

कदाऽयोध्यां महाबाहुः पुरीं वीरः प्रवेक्ष्यति।पुरस्कृत्य रथे सीतां वृषभो गोवधूमिव।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.43.12

Transliteration

kadāyodhyāṃ mahābāhuḥ purīṃ vīraḥ pravekṣyati | puraskṛtya rathe sītāṃ vṛṣabho govadhūm iva ||

Translation

متى يدخل ذلك البطل عظيم الساعدين مدينة أيودهيَا، مقدّمًا سيتا أمامه على العربة—كما يتبع الثورُ البقرةَ؟

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Word by Word

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kālaviśeṣaṇa (कालविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb

• ayodhyām: Ayodhya
• ayodhyām: Karma (कर्म) (goal as object of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• mahā-bāhuḥ: mighty-armed (Rama)
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition to ayodhyām

• vīraḥ: the hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pravekṣyati: will enter
• pravekṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• puraskṛtya: having placed in front
• puraskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puras-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) from causative sense 'placing in front/honouring'

• rathe: on the chariot
• rathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म) (object of puraskṛtya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• vṛṣabhaḥ: a bull
• vṛṣabhaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• go-vadhūm: a cow (as bride/mate)
• go-vadhūm: Upameya (उपमेय) (object compared: sītām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + vadhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'goḥ vadhūḥ' = cow-bride (cow as mate)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

Context

When will the mighty-armed hero (Rama) enter the city of Ayodhya with Sita in front in the chariot, like a bull following the cow?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma
• Sītā
• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

It gestures to household and royal dharma: the righteous prince is envisioned returning with his wife in honor, restoring both familial order and public auspiciousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā imagines a future homecoming procession where Rāma re-enters Ayodhyā with Sītā on the chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective, dignified leadership and conjugal responsibility (pati-dharma) implied by the respectful placement of Sītā.