Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 15

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

जीवेदपि हि मे माता शत्रुघ्नस्यान्ववेक्षया।तद्दुःखं यत्तु कौशल्या वीरसूर्विनशिष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

jīved api hi me mātā śatrughnasyānvavekṣayā |

tad duḥkhaṃ yat tu kauśalyā vīrasūḥ vinaśiṣyati ||

Translation

Meine Mutter mag noch leben, gestützt durch den Blick auf Śatrughna; doch wahrlich ist es Schmerz, wenn Kaushalyā —die Mutter eines Helden— zugrunde geht.

Word by Word

• अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा: filled with devoted people
• अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरक्त + जन + आकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अनुरक्तैः जनैः आकीर्णा), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘आकीर्ण’ (filled), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुरी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सुखालोकप्रियावहा: bringing joy and being dear to the people
• सुखालोकप्रियावहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + लोक + प्रिय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लोकस्य प्रियं सुखं आवहति इति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुरी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा: afflicted by the king's calamity
• राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज + व्यसन + संसृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राजव्यसनेन संसृष्टा), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संसृष्ट’ (mixed/afflicted), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुरी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुरी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनशिष्यति: will perish
• विनशिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

My mother may live looking forward to Satrughna. But, alas! Kausalya may die, separated from her valiant son.

Characters & Entities

• Śatrughna
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

It affirms reverence for the virtuous and innocent: Kausalyā’s suffering is presented as especially unjust, calling attention to the duty to protect the blameless.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata weighs who might endure the shock—his own mother may cling to life for Śatrughna, while Kausalyā may collapse from separation from Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartial empathy—Bharata grieves for Kausalyā despite political circumstances that could benefit him.