Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65, Shloka 23
अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः — Daśaratha’s Death Discovered in the Palace
Morning Rites Turn to Lament
सा कोसलेन्द्रदुहिता वेष्टमाना महीतले।न बभ्राज रजोध्वस्ता तारेव गगनाच्च्युता।।।।
sā kosalendraduhitā veṣṭamānā mahītale | na babhrāja rajodhvastā tāreva gaganāccyutā ||
تلك كوساليا، ابنةُ ملكِ كوسالا، كانت تتلوّى على الأرض؛ وقد غطّاها الغبار فلم تعد تتلألأ، كنجمةٍ هوت من السماء.
Kausalya, daughter of the lord of Kosala, lay on the ground writhing in pain, coated with dust, and devoid of brightness like a star without radiance fallen from the sky.
FAQs
It points to an ethical realism central to the epic: worldly brilliance (status, beauty, security) is impermanent; dharmic life requires steadiness amid inevitable loss.
After collapsing, Kausalyā is depicted physically overwhelmed by grief, losing her former radiance.
The verse primarily emphasizes pathos rather than virtue; it highlights the depth of Kausalyā’s love and the magnitude of the loss.