Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.45 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 45

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

दश सप्त च वर्षाणि जातस्य तव राघवअतितानि प्रकाङ्क्षन्त्या मया दुःखपरिक्षयम्।।।।

Transliteration

daśa sapta ca varṣāṇi jātasya tava rāghava atītāni prakāṅkṣantyā mayā duḥkhaparikṣayam ||

Translation

Ô Rāghava, dix-sept années se sont écoulées depuis que tu as atteint l’âge mûr ; et tout ce temps, j’ai vécu dans l’attente, aspirant à la fin de ma peine.

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like in usage; here qualifying varṣāṇi

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral, indeclinable-like; qualifying varṣāṇi

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural

• जातस्य: of (you) having been born
• जातस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √jan; Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular; with tava: 'of you who were born/initiated'

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive, Singular

• राघव: O Rāghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अतीतानि: have passed
• अतीतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √i with ati; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; agrees with varṣāṇi

• प्रकाङ्क्षन्त्या: by (me) longing for
• प्रकाङ्क्षन्त्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-kāṅkṣantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ) from √kāṅkṣ with pra; Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; agrees with mayā (speaker)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Instrumental, Singular

• दुःखपरिक्षयम्: the end of sorrow
• दुःखपरिक्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha-pari-kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: duḥkha + parikṣaya (end/cessation); Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of prakāṅkṣantyā

Context

O Rama, I have spent the last seventeen years after your birth with the expectaion that my sorrows would come to an end.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse reflects steadfastness (dhṛti) in adversity—enduring suffering while holding to rightful hopes rather than turning to wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā recalls the long period during which she hoped Rāma’s maturity and future kingship would end her grief, only to see that hope shattered by the exile order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and maternal devotion—she has endured years of pain sustained by faith in her son’s destiny.