Shloka 2.61.30

कौसल्याविलापः — Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

वनं गते धर्मपरे रामे रमयतां वरे।कौसल्या रुदती स्वार्ता भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.61.1।।

Transliteration

vanaṃ gate dharmapare rāme ramayatāṃ vare | kausalyā rudatī svārtā bhartāram idam abravīt ||

Translation

When Rama—devoted to dharma and foremost in pleasing others—had gone to the forest, Kausalya, sobbing in bitter anguish, addressed her husband.

Context

Hearing the words uttered in harrowing accents, the king overcome with deep distress became senseless. Recollecting his folly thereafter he fell into a sad state.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে একষষ্টিতমস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the sixtyfirst sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kausalyā
• Daśaratha
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

By foregrounding Rāma’s dharma-orientation, the narration frames the ensuing lament as an ethical crisis: the righteous have been made to suffer through decisions made in the name of duty.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated narrative marker (as presented in the input) introducing Kausalyā’s speech after Rāma’s departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s integrity and altruism (dharma + concern for others) are emphasized as defining traits.