Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 35

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā outskirts/roadside (instruction in transit)Places named: AyodhyāMessage for household conduct during Rāma’s exile

Devanagari script

यथा च तव कैकेयी सुमित्रा च विशेषतः ।

तथैव देवी कौशल्या मम माता विशेषतः ॥३५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.35

Transliteration

yathā ca tava kaikeyī sumitrā ca viśeṣataḥ |

tathaiva devī kauśalyā mama mātā viśeṣataḥ ||35||

Translation

وكما أن كايكَيِي وسوميترا عزيزتان عليك على وجه الخصوص، فكذلك ينبغي أن تُكرَم ديفي كوشاليا—أمي—بعنايةٍ خاصة.

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Word by Word

• तातस्य: of (your) father
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

• प्रियकामेन: by/with a loving desire
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ('with the desire for what is dear')
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• यौवराज्यम्: the crown-princeship
• Type: Noun
• Root: yauvarājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अपेक्षता: while expecting
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apa + īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'while expecting/awaiting'
• Role: Karana (करण)

• लोकयोः: of/in the two worlds
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• उभयोः: of both
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-प्रयोग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of लोकयोः)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• शक्यम्: possible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative: 'possible')
• Role: Vidheya (विधेय)

• त्वया: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• यत्: that which
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय-प्रयोग (relative particle: 'that/which')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• सुखम्: happiness
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• एधितुम्: to prosper/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: edh (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव; 'to increase/attain/prosper'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

Sandhi Notes

• यौवराज्यमपेक्षता = यौवराज्यम् + अपेक्षता (म् + अ → म + अ)
• लोकयोरुभयोः = लोकयोः + उभयोः (ः + उ → र् + उ, visarga sandhi)

Context

Just as you treat Kaikeyi and Sumitra in a special manner, so should you treat Devi Kausalya, my mother.

The teaching

When dharma is wounded, healing begins by honoring those who bear undeserved suffering—especially one’s mother.

Duties in tension

• Bharata’s filial loyalty to Kaikeyī vs. moral duty to protect and honor the wronged elder queen Kauśalyā
• Court politics vs. compassion for the afflicted

Ethical theme

Mātṛdharma / kuladharma

How it resolves

Restorative dharma: special honor to the injured party to re-balance household order

For your practice

Daily practice of reverence to mother/elders as a concrete form of bhakti and humility.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Filial, pleading, gentle

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Matru-bhakti (reverence to mothers)
• Family harmony
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kaikeyi
• Sumitra
• Kausalya
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is gratitude and protection of the vulnerable: Rama ensures his mother Kauśalyā receives particular care when he is absent.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama instructs that Bharata’s conduct should include special consideration for Kauśalyā, who will suffer most from Rama’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s filial devotion and sensitivity—he safeguards his mother’s dignity through moral instruction to others.