Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 48
अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः
Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile
उपवासैश्च योगैश्च बहुभिश्च परिश्रमैः।दुःखं संवर्धितो मोघं त्वं हि दुर्गतया मया।।।।
upavāsaiś ca yogaiś ca bahubhiś ca pariśramaiḥ | duḥkhaṃ saṃvardhito moghaṃ tvaṃ hi durgatayā mayā ||
उपवासों, योग-साधनाओं और अनेक परिश्रमों से, अपनी दुर्दशा में भी मैंने तुम्हें कष्टपूर्वक पाला; पर अब, हाय, सब कुछ व्यर्थ-सा हो गया—कितनी दुर्भाग्यवती हूँ मैं!
Through meditation, through fasts and with a great deal of efforts you have been brought up by this luckless (mother). But alas! this is all in vain.
FAQs
It reflects the tension between personal sacrifice and outcomes; Dharma values the intention and purity of effort even when results appear bitter.
Kausalyā recalls her religious observances and hardships undertaken for Rāma, lamenting that the present calamity makes those efforts feel futile.
Self-sacrifice—her life of restraint and effort is presented as dedicated to her child’s welfare.