Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 29

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

वनं गते धर्मपरे रामे रमयतां वरे।कौसल्या रुदती स्वार्ता भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.61.1।।

Transliteration

vanaṃ gate dharmapare rāme ramayatāṃ vare | kausalyā rudatī svārtā bhartāram idam abravīt ||

Translation

لما مضى راما، الملتزم بالدارما والأبرع في إدخال السرور على الناس، إلى الغابة، قالت كوساليا لزوجها وهي تنتحب في مرارةٍ وألمٍ شديدين هذه الكلمات.

Word by Word

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गते: when (he) had gone
• गते: क्रियाविशेषण (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकृत् (PPP) ‘गत’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘रामे गते’ = सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• धर्मपरे: devoted to righteousness
• धर्मपरे: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘धर्मे परः’ = devoted to dharma; ‘रामे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रामे: when Rama (was)
• रामे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे (locative absolute)

• रमयताम्: of those who delight (others)
• रमयताम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → रमयत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘रमयत्’ = pleasing; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन ‘रमयताम्’ = ‘of those who please’; ‘वरे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वरे: the best, excellent
• वरे: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘रामे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (best/excellent)

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रुदती: weeping
• रुदती: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रुद् (धातु) → रुदत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कौसल्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्वार्ता: in bitter personal anguish
• स्वार्ता: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कौसल्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; अर्थः—स्वार्थे/स्वदुःखे आसक्ता (in her own anguish)

• भर्तारम्: to her husband
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

You have destroyed this kingdom, and the state along with its inhabitants. You have ruined yourself along with your ministers. You have brought disaster to me and to my son. Your son (Bharata) and your wife (Kaikeyi) are the only persons who are happy.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kausalyā
• Daśaratha
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Rāma is characterized as dharmapara—ethically steadfast—and also as one who prioritizes others’ well-being; dharma here is both principled conduct and compassionate social responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

This is a narrative lead-in: Rāma has departed for exile; Kausalyā begins her lament and accusation addressed to Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s selflessness (pleasing/serving others) joined to dharma-centered living.