Shloka 8

कौशल्याविलापः

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

Devanagari script

ते रत्नहीनास्तरुणाः फलकाले विवासिताः।कथं वत्स्यन्ति कृपणाः फलमूलैः कृताशनाः।।।।

Transliteration

te ratnahīnāstaruṇāḥ phalakāle vivāsitāḥ | kathaṃ vatsyanti kṛpaṇāḥ phalamūlaiḥ kṛtāśanāḥ ||

Translation

Der Kostbarkeiten und Annehmlichkeiten beraubt, in der Blüte der Jugend verbannt, die doch dem Genuss bestimmt ist — wie werden sie, die Armen, leben, wenn Früchte und Wurzeln ihre Speise sind?

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ratna-hīnāḥ: deprived of luxuries
• ratna-hīnāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'ratnena hīnāḥ' = deprived of precious things

• taruṇāḥ: young men
• taruṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to te)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• phala-kāle: at the time of enjoyment
• phala-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'phalānāṃ kālaḥ' = time of fruition/enjoyment

• vivāsitāḥ: exiled
• vivāsitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-vas (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'exiled'

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• vatsyanti: will live
• vatsyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• kṛpaṇāḥ: wretched
• kṛpaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• phala-mūlaiḥ: with fruits and roots
• phala-mūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; द्वन्द्व: 'phalāni ca mūlāni ca'

• kṛta-āśanāḥ: living on (as) food
• kṛta-āśanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ धातु) + āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'kṛtam āśanam yeṣām' = having food made/arranged (i.e., subsisting)

Context

Deprived of all costly things they have been banished at the tender age of youth, a time for enjoying their lives. How will they lead a miserable life subsisting on fruits and roots?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• forest (vana)
• fruits and roots (phala-mūla)

FAQs

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

It underscores the dharmic duty of a ruler and parent to safeguard the young and innocent, questioning decisions that impose disproportionate suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā imagines the material deprivation of forest life for Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, contrasting it with their sheltered upbringing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective concern and empathy—Kausalyā’s ability to foresee the human cost of political decisions.