Valmiki Ramayana 2.43.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 17

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

निस्संशयं मया मन्ये पुरा वीर कदर्यया।पातुकामेषु वत्सेषु मातृ़णां शातितास्स्तनाः।।।।

Transliteration

nissaṃśayaṃ mayā manye purā vīra kadaryayā |

pātukāmeṣu vatseṣu mātṝṇāṃ śātitā stanāḥ ||

Translation

Indudablemente, oh valiente, creo que en algún tiempo pasado —por crueldad avara— corté las ubres de las madres mientras sus terneros anhelaban beber; por eso me ha llegado este sufrimiento.

Word by Word

• निस्संशयम्: undoubtedly
• निस्संशयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nissaṃśaya (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: undoubtedly)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता/Agent of thinking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कदर्यया: out of avarice
• कदर्यया: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ (instrumental of cause: out of avarice)

• पातु-कामेषु: in calves desiring to drink (milk)
• पातु-कामेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātu (तुमुन्/infinitive of √pā ‘to drink’) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (पातुं कामः येषु)

• वत्सेषु: among calves
• वत्सेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• मातॄणाम्: of the mothers (cows)
• मातॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शातिताः: were cut/hacked
• शातिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śātita (प्रातिपदिक; causative of √śā/√śat ‘to cut/hack’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of स्तनाः)

• स्तनाः: udders/teats
• स्तनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

I am consumed by this blazing fire of grief caused by separation from my son like the earth scorched in summer by the Sun-god with his oppressive raysityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē tricatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Dasharatha (implied addressee: vīra)

FAQs

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

Ahiṃsā and compassion are central to dharma; cruelty to vulnerable beings is portrayed as generating painful consequences. The verse teaches moral causality (karma) and the need for empathy.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya, overwhelmed by separation from Rama, interprets her present anguish through the lens of past wrongdoing and karmic retribution.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral introspection and accountability: Kausalya does not merely blame others; she searches her own actions (even across time) for ethical causes.