Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.35 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 35

एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः

Devanagari script

रामशोकमहाभोगस्सीताविरहपारगः।श्वसितोर्मि महावर्तो बाष्पफेनजालाविलः।।2.59.33।।बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्रन्दित महास्वनः।प्रकीर्णकेशशैवालः कैकेयीबडबामुखः।।2.59.34।।ममाश्रुवेगप्रभवः कुब्जावाक्यमहाग्रहः।वरवेलो नृशंसाया रामप्रव्राजनायतः।।2.59.35।।यस्मिन्बत निमग्नोऽहं कौसल्ये राघवं विना।दुस्तरो जीवता देवि मयाऽयं शोकसागरः।।2.59.36।।

Transliteration

mamāśru-vega-prabhavaḥ kubjā-vākya-mahāgrahaḥ | vara-velo nṛśaṁsāyā rāma-pravrājanāyataḥ || 2.59.35 ||

Translation

Sa source est le torrent de mes larmes ; ses grands crocodiles sont les paroles de la bossue. Son rivage, ce sont les dons de la reine cruelle, et sa vaste étendue, l’exil de Rāma.

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी) ekavacana (genitive)

• अश्रुवेगप्रभवः: having the rush of tears as its source
• अश्रुवेगप्रभवः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśru + vega + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga prathamā ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि—"अश्रुवेगः प्रभवः यस्य" (whose source is the rush of my tears)

• कुब्जावाक्यमहाग्रहः: having the hunchback's words as huge crocodiles
• कुब्जावाक्यमहाग्रहः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā + vākya + mahā + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga prathamā ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि—"कुब्जावाक्यानि महाग्रहाः यस्य" (whose great crocodiles are the hunchback's words)

• वरवेलः: having boons as its shores
• वरवेलः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + velā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga prathamā ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि—"वराणि वेलाः यस्य" (whose shores/banks are boons)

• नृशंसायाः: of the cruel one
• नृशंसायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga ṣaṣṭhī ekavacana; adjective used substantively "of the cruel (woman)" (Kaikeyi)

• रामप्रव्राजनायतः: having Rama's exile as its vast extent
• रामप्रव्राजनायतः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + pravrājana + āyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga prathamā ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि—"रामप्रव्राजनम् आयतः यस्य" (whose extent is Rama's exile)

Context

Lakshmana walked ahead guarding Rama, the delight of the Raghus. While I returned helplessly seeing them go.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (Kubjā)
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It stresses the dharmic weight of speech and promises: manipulative counsel and rigid boons, when detached from justice, become predatory forces; satya (truthfulness) must be guided by viveka (discernment) to remain dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha identifies the causes that led to Rāma’s exile—Mantharā’s instigation and Kaikeyī’s boons—while expressing helpless grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A tragic version of ‘truth-keeping’ is emphasized: Daśaratha is bound to boons he granted, revealing how commitment without moral clarity can ruin both king and kingdom.