Shloka 10

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

श्रृत्वैवोपस्थितौ वीरौ कदायोध्या भविष्यति।यशस्विनी हृष्टजना सूच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनी।।।।

Transliteration

śrutvaivopasthitau vīrau kadāyodhyā bhaviṣyati | yaśasvinī hṛṣṭajanā sūcchritadhvajamālinī ||

Translation

Wann wird Ayodhyā wieder in Herrlichkeit erstrahlen—wenn schon beim bloßen Hören von der Rückkehr der beiden Helden das Volk jubelt und die Stadt mit Reihen hoch erhobener Banner geschmückt ist?

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• upasthitau: returned/present
• upasthitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vīrau
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual (द्विवचन); 'arrived/returned, present'

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता) (implied for 'bhaviṣyati' context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kālaviśeṣaṇa (कालविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• ayodhyā: Ayodhya
• ayodhyā: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of bhaviṣyati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person, Singular

• yaśasvinī: glorious
• yaśasvinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ayodhyā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to ayodhyā

• hṛṣṭa-janā: whose people are joyful
• hṛṣṭa-janā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ayodhyā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, √hṛṣ धातु) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'hṛṣṭāḥ janāḥ yasyāḥ sā'

• su-ucchrita-dhvaja-mālinī: adorned with well-raised flags
• su-ucchrita-dhvaja-mālinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ayodhyā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ucchrita (कृदन्त, √śri/śray? here √śri 'to rise' via ucchri) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + mālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'su-ucchritā dhvajamālā yasyāḥ sā' = having well-uplifted garlands/rows of flags

Context

When will the city of Ayodhya attain that glory when having heard that both the brave brothers have come back the people will rejoice and fill it with uplifted banners?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma (implied as one hero)
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as one hero)

FAQs

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

It reflects rājaḍharma’s social dimension: the rightful presence of a dhārmic prince brings collective well-being, morale, and civic harmony—Ayodhyā’s joy is tied to righteous leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā, grieving and yearning, imagines the auspicious scene of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa returning and the city celebrating.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s steadfast love and hope, alongside her recognition of Rāma’s role as a source of public welfare.