Valmiki Ramayana 2.43.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 2

कौशल्याविलापः

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

Devanagari script

राघवे नरशार्दूले विषमुप्त्वाहिजिह्मगा।विचरिष्यति कैकेयी निर्मुक्तेव हि पन्नगी।।।।

Transliteration

rāghave naraśārdūle viṣam uptvā ahijihmagā |

vicariṣyati kaikeyī nirmukteva hi pannagī ||

Translation

كالأفعى الملتوية صبّت كايكيي سمَّها على راغhava، نمر الرجال؛ والآن، كأنثى حيّةٍ ألقت جلدها، ستجول بلا قيد.

Word by Word

• राघवे: in/with regard to Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवे: अधिकरण (Locative locus: 'in/with regard to Rāghava')
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative); एकवचनम् (Singular)

• नरशार्दूले: in the tiger among men (i.e., in Rama)
• नरशार्दूले: अधिकरण (Locative in apposition to राघवे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative); एकवचनम् (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणां शार्दूलः = 'tiger among men')

• विषम्: poison, venom
• विषम्: कर्म (Object of उप्त्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative); एकवचनम् (Singular)

• उप्त्वा: having sown/scattered
• उप्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वप् (धातुः) → उप्त्वा (क्त्वान्तः अव्ययभावः)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्तम् अव्ययम् (Gerund/Absolutive); धातुः: वप् (to sow/scatter); अर्थः: 'कृत्वा/समाप्य' (having done)

• अहिजिह्मगा: the serpent-like (woman), moving obliquely
• अहिजिह्मगा: कर्ता (Subject of विचरिष्यति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि + जिह्म + गा (प्रातिपदिकम्; गा = गमनशील/गामिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative); एकवचनम् (Singular); कर्मधारयः (अहिरिव जिह्मा गा = 'serpent-like, moving obliquely')

• विचरिष्यति: will wander/roam about
• विचरिष्यति: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातुः)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future); प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person); एकवचनम् (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयी: कर्ता (Subject in apposition to अहिजिह्मगा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative); एकवचनम् (Singular)

• निर्मुक्ता: cast off, freed (from the slough)
• निर्मुक्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier of पन्नगी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + मुच् (धातुः) → निर्मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (Past Passive Participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम्; (पन्नगी-विशेषणम्)

• इव: like, as
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्ययम्)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (comparative particle: 'like/as')

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्ययम्)
• Form: निपातः (particle; emphasis/indeed/for)

• पन्नगी: a she-serpent
• पन्नगी: उपमान (Standard of comparison for अहिजिह्मगा/कैकेयी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative); एकवचनम् (Singular)

Context

O valiant one, in my previous birth I must have undoubtedly hacked off the udders of cows when the calves were thirsting for milk from their mothers.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghava)
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

The verse warns that adharma—deceit and malice within the household—spreads like poison. Dharma in a royal family requires restraint, truthfulness, and protection of the innocent, not the unleashing of destructive intent.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kaikeyi’s boons have compelled Dasharatha to exile Rama, Kausalya laments to Dasharatha, portraying Kaikeyi as a serpent that has struck and now moves freely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast to Kaikeyi’s ‘crookedness,’ Rama’s implied virtue is steadiness and righteousness—he is the ‘tiger among men’ who receives undeserved harm yet remains aligned with dharma.