Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.27 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 27

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद्भयमुपस्थितम्।इदं तव च दुःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च।।।।

Transliteration

devi nūnaṃ na jānīṣe mahad bhayam upasthitam | idaṃ tava ca duḥkhāya vaidehyā lakṣmaṇasya ca ||

Translation

Mutter, gewiss weißt du es noch nicht: ein großes Unheil ist herangekommen—es wird dir, Vaidehī (Sītā) und auch Lakṣmaṇa Kummer bringen.

Word by Word

• देवि: O देवी (lady/queen)
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (certainly)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• जानीषे: you know
• जानीषे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to भयम्)

• भयम्: fear/misfortune
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपस्थितम्: that has befallen/arrived
• उपस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित (कृदन्त; उप+स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to भयम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तव: for you/of you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• दुःखाय: for sorrow/distress
• दुःखाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for causing)

• वैदेह्याः: of Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणस्य: of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Context

O mother! surely you do not know that a great misfortune has befallen, causing distress to you, Sita and Lakshmana, too.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya
• Vaidehi (Sita)
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) joined with dayā (compassion): Rama speaks truth about impending suffering without deceit, preparing his mother for the reality of dharma-driven exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama begins to disclose to Kausalya that a major misfortune—his exile—has befallen the family and will affect Sita and Lakshmana too.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness with sensitivity—Rama’s responsible, compassionate disclosure.