Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 28

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः।पूज्यास्ते मत्कृते देवि बाह्मणाश्चैव सुव्रताः।।2.24.28।।

Transliteration

agnikāryeṣu ca sadā sumanobhiś ca devatāḥ |

pūjyās te matkṛte devi brāhmaṇāś caiva suvratāḥ || 2.24.28 ||

Translation

And always, for my sake, O Lady, you should worship the deities in the fire-rites with flowers—and likewise honor the brāhmaṇas who are faithful to their vows.

Word by Word

• अग्निकार्येषु: in fire-rituals
• अग्निकार्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः कार्याणि)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक

• सुमनोभिः: with flowers
• सुमनोभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; 'flowers'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्मणि-कर्ता/विषय), बहुवचन

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be worshipped'), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुं/स्त्री समानरूप (agreeing with देवताः, ब्राह्मणाः)

• ते: for you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मत्कृते: for my sake
• मत्कृते: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + कृते (कृदन्त; √कृ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; 'मत्' (मम) + 'कृते' (हेतोः/for the sake of) = हेत्वर्थ अव्यय

• देवि: O lady
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणाः: brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात

• सुव्रताः: of good vows
• सुव्रताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं व्रतं येषां ते)

Context

Looking forward to my return, spend your time this way with moderate intake, a mind under control and a life devoted to the service of your husband.

Characters & Entities

• Agni (fire-rites)
• deities (devatā)
• brāhmaṇas
• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through nitya-karma (regular sacred duties) and honoring the worthy—maintaining ritual and social-sacred obligations even amid crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

Before leaving for the forest, Rāma asks his mother to continue household rites and to respect vow-keeping brahmins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s sense of responsibility: he connects personal separation with continuity of dharmic practice and support of religious life.