Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 23

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

शोचन्त्या अल्पभाग्याया न किञ्चिदुपकुर्वता।पुत्रेण किमपुत्राया मया कार्यमरिन्दम।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.23

Transliteration

śocantyā alpabhāgyāyā na kiñcid upakurvatā |

putreṇa kim aputrāyā mayā kāryam arindama ||

Translation

Für meine Mutter, die klagt und vom Schicksal wenig begünstigt ist: Welchen Zweck hat ein Sohn wie ich, der ihr in nichts helfen kann, als wäre sie ohne Sohn, o Bezwinger der Feinde?

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Word by Word

• शोचन्त्याः: of (her) grieving
• शोचन्त्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘अल्पभाग्यायाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अल्पभाग्यायाः: of the ill-fated (woman)
• अल्पभाग्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अल्पं भाग्यं यस्याः)

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

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अल्पार्थे (anything at all)

• उपकुर्वता: by (me) helping
• उपकुर्वता: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘मया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुत्रेण: by a son
• पुत्रेण: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• अपुत्रायाः: of (her) being sonless
• अपुत्रायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘(मम मातुः)’ इत्यर्थे

• मया: by me
• मया: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done/help
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘किम्’ इत्यनेन सह (what can be done)

• अरिन्दम: O conqueror of enemies
• अरिन्दम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिन्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Context

My mother has less fortune and more grief like a woman without a son, O Lakshmana, subduer of enemies! For her, what is the use of a son like me who cannot render any service to her?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kausalya (implied as mother)

FAQs

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

Dharma as seva (service): relationship is validated by concrete help and protection; Rama laments that his exile prevents him from fulfilling that duty to his mother.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama reflects that Kausalya’s sorrow is like that of a sonless woman because he cannot support her while banished.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of duty and self-critique: Rama measures himself against the standard of service owed to parents.