Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 7

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रध्वजसङ्काशः क्व नु शेते महाभुजः।भुजं परिघसङ्काशमुपधाय महाबलः।।2.61.7।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.61.7

Transliteration

mahendradhvaja-saṅkāśaḥ kva nu śete mahā-bhujaḥ | bhujaṃ parigha-saṅkāśam upadhāya mahā-balaḥ || 2.61.7 ||

Translation

أين ينام الآن راما العظيمُ الذراعين، الشامخُ كرايةِ إندرا، متوسّدًا ذراعًا كأنه قضيبٌ من حديد، وهو ذو بأسٍ عظيم؟

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Word by Word

• महेन्द्रध्वजसङ्काशः: resembling Indra’s great banner
• महेन्द्रध्वजसङ्काशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेन्द्रध्वज + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—महेन्द्रध्वजस्य सङ्काशः (like Indra's banner)

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of place)

• नु: indeed/then
• नु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/interrogative nuance)

• शेते: lies/sleeps
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महाभुजः: the long-armed one
• महाभुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् भुजः यस्य (long-armed)

• भुजम्: arm
• भुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिघसङ्काशम्: like an iron bar
• परिघसङ्काशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिघ + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—परिघस्य सङ्काशम् (like an iron bar)

• उपधाय: having placed (as a pillow)
• उपधाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महद् बलम् यस्य

Context

Where will that mighty-armed and powerful Rama, as lofty as Indra's banner, sleep using his iron-bar-like arm as pillow?.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Indra (by epithet: Mahendra)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the cost of dharma-driven sacrifice: Rama accepts hardship for righteousness, while Kausalya’s grief underscores the human pain that can accompany adherence to duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rama’s departure to the forest, Kausalya imagines his austere conditions and anxiously wonders where he can even sleep.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s fortitude and self-discipline (tapas-like endurance) are implied—he can rest even without royal comforts.