Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 20

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.20।।जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च

Transliteration

tāṃ tathā rudatīṃ rāmo rudan vacanam abravīt || 2.24.20 || jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivataṃ prabhur eva ca |

Translation

তাকে এভাবে কাঁদতে দেখে রামও অশ্রুসজল হয়ে বললেন—“স্ত্রী জীবিত থাকলে তার জন্য স্বামীই দেবতা, স্বামীই অধিকারী প্রভু।”

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• रुदतीम्: crying, wailing
• रुदतीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुदत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रुद्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ताम्)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• रुदन्: sobbing, while crying
• रुदन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुदत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रुद्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृसमनाधिकरण-क्रियाविशेषण (concomitant action: 'while sobbing')

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जीवन्त्याः: of a living (woman)
• जीवन्त्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जीव्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्त्रियाः)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• स्त्रियाः: of a woman
• स्त्रियाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• दैवतम्: deity, god
• दैवतम्: Viśeṣya/Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• प्रभुः: lord, master
• प्रभुः: Viśeṣya/Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle: 'only/indeed')

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Context

Adding his tears to his mother's who was wailing Rama said As long as a woman lives, her husband is her god and also her lord (master).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Husband (bhartā)
• Daśaratha (contextual referent of bhartā)

FAQs

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

The verse states a normative household ethic of the epic: marital duty and social order are upheld by honoring one’s spouse (here, the husband) as the primary authority in a woman’s worldly life.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā begs to accompany Rāma; Rāma responds while grieving, redirecting her toward her duty to Daśaratha in the palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to maryādā (propriety and role-based duty) is emphasized, even amid personal sorrow.