Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 6

कौसल्याविलापः · Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Spoken by Kausalya to King DaśarathaSetting: AyodhyaPlaces named: forest (vana, implied)

Devanagari script

गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा शुभमनिन्दिता ।

कथं क्रव्यादसिंहानां शब्दं श्रोष्यत्यशोभनम् ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.61.6

Transliteration

gītavāditranirghoṣaṃ śrutvā śubham aninditā |

kathaṃ kravyādasiṃhānāṃ śabdaṃ śroṣyaty aśobhanam ||6||

Translation

सीता गाने और बजाने की आवाज़ सुन के बड़ी थी। अब वो शेर और जानवर के चिल्लाने की आवाज़ कैसे सहेगी? वो आवाज़ तो अच्छी नहीं लगती।

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Word by Word

• गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषम्: the loud sound of songs and instruments
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत + वादित्र + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/समाहारार्थः—गीत-वादित्रयोः निर्घोषः
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) for गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• अनिन्दिता: the blameless lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिन्दिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधित-नायिका/कर्ता-स्थानम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• क्रव्यादसिंहानाम्: of carnivores and lions
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रव्याद + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—क्रव्यादाः च सिंहाः च
• Role: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Dvandva

• शब्दम्: sound
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रोष्यति: will hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• अशोभनम्: inauspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) for शब्दम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं = गीत-वादित्र-निर्घोषम्
• शुभमनिन्दिता = शुभम् + अनिन्दिता
• क्रव्यादसिंहानां = क्रव्याद-सिंहानाम्
• श्रोष्यत्यशोभनम् = श्रोष्यति + अशोभनम्

Context

How can the blameless Sita, used to the soft sound of songs and musicalinstruments hear the frightful roars of lions and other carnivorous animals?

The teaching

Refinement does not shield one from life’s harsher sounds; dharma may lead the gentle into frightening terrains, demanding inner courage.

Duties in tension

• Protecting Sita’s safety/peace vs inability to prevent exile
• Royal duty to uphold decree vs humane duty to prevent suffering

Ethical theme

Non-violence/compassion vs political necessity

How it resolves

Helpless lament

For your practice

Invites practice of fear-transformation through remembrance of dharma and inner refuge; useful for contemplating courage amid unsettling environments.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Dread, fragility, ominous

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Compassion
• Exile
• Fear vs duty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lions (siṃha)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is evaluated through the lens of harm: Kausalyā underscores that righteous policy should not inflict terror and insecurity upon the innocent; ethical action must consider psychological suffering as well.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing her lament, Kausalyā contrasts palace music with the frightening sounds of the wilderness to portray the exile’s emotional cost to Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s purity (aninditā) and the courage she must summon in order to remain aligned with Rāma’s dharmic path.