Valmiki Ramayana 2.66.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 4

अयोध्यायां शोकविलापः · Lamentation in Ayodhya after Daśaratha’s death

Devanagari script

विहाय मां गतो रामः भर्ता च स्वर्गतो मम ।

विपथे सार्थहीनेव नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.66.4

Transliteration

vihāya māṁ gato rāmaḥ bhartā ca svargato mama |

vipathe sārthahīneva nāhaṁ jīvitum utsahe ||4||

Translation

Rāma ist fortgegangen und hat mich zurückgelassen; und mein Herr (Daśaratha) ist in den Himmel eingegangen. Wie einer, der ohne Gefährten auf einen Irrweg geraten ist, habe ich keinen Willen mehr zu leben.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• sakāmā: O fulfilled-in-desire
• sakāmā: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: 'with desires fulfilled/with desired end'); Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; addressing Kaikeyi

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्; imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• kaikeyi: O Kaikeyi
• kaikeyi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• bhuṅkṣva: enjoy, partake
• bhuṅkṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 2nd person, Singular

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• akaṇṭakam: without obstacles
• akaṇṭakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying 'rājyam'

• tyaktvā: having forsaken
• tyaktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal; 'having abandoned'

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ekāgrā: O single-minded one
• ekāgrā: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (एक + अग्र); Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular; addressing Kaikeyi

• nṛśaṃse: O cruel one
• nṛśaṃse: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular (used as abusive address)

• duṣṭacāriṇi: O wicked-behaved one
• duṣṭacāriṇi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय sense: 'evil-conducted/evil-doer'); Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

Context

Rama has gone away leaving me. My lord has ascended the heaven, traversing the wrong road. With my well-wishers gone, I do not want to live.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daśaratha
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

The verse frames grief as a crisis of support and orientation: without one’s rightful protectors and companions, life feels like a wrong road. Dharma here appears indirectly—as the moral order whose rupture (exile and bereavement) produces disorientation and despair.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s departure into exile, Kauśalyā laments her abandonment and helplessness within Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s sincerity and emotional truthfulness—she does not mask the devastation caused by separation and the collapse of royal protection.