Valmiki Ramayana 2.62.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 1
अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः · Kausalyā consoles Daśaratha; grief, remorse, and nightfall
Setting: अयोध्या
एवं तु क्रुद्धया राजा राममात्रा सशोकया ।
श्रावितः परुषं वाक्यं चिन्तयामास दुःखितः ॥१॥
evaṃ tu kruddhayā rājā rāma-mātrā sa-śokayā |
śrāvitaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ cintayām āsa duḥkhitaḥ ||1||
राजा को राम की माँ के मुँह से सुनना पड़ा जो गुस्से और दुख में बोली थी। उनकी बातें काफी कड़वी थीं। राजा बहुत दुखी होकर सोच में पड़ गया।
Sandhi Notes
- एवं तु kept
- राममात्रा = राम-मात्रा
- सशोकया = स-शोकया
- परुषं वाक्यं unchanged
Forced to hear the harsh words of angry Kausalya, the king, deeply distressed, was absorbed in sad thought.
The teaching
धर्मबन्धनं राज्ञः मनसि शोकं जनयति; परुष-वाक्यं अपि सत्य-स्थितिं परीक्षते।
Duties in tension
- राजधर्म (सत्य-प्रतिज्ञा/वरदान-पालन)
- पितृधर्म (पुत्र-रक्षा/स्नेह)
- पतिधर्म/गृहस्थधर्म (पत्नी-शोक-शमन)
- Ethical theme
- Promise keeping vs parental duty
- How it resolves
- Deliberation without resolution (chintā)
For your practice
वाणी-निग्रहः, क्रोध-शोकयोः मध्ये विवेक-स्थापनम्।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Wounded, brooding, heavy-hearted
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Grief (śoka)
- Consequences of vows
- Family conflict
अविद्या-उपाधि-जन्य शोकः—मनः क्लेशे निमग्नं, विवेकः आच्छादितः।
बृहदारण्यक/छान्दोग्य—शोकस्य अतिक्रमणं ज्ञानात्; अत्र तु राज्ञः शोक-आवरणम्।
वाःरा 2.12-2.14 (दशरथस्य वरदान-बन्धन-चिन्ता); महाभारत शान्तिपर्व (राजधर्मे शोक-विवेक); रामचरितमानस अयोध्याकाण्ड (दशरथ-कौसल्या संवाद)
धर्मे स्थितस्य राज्ञः वाक्य-प्रतिज्ञा-पालन (वैदिक सत्य-प्रतिष्ठा)
वाःरा 2.60-2.63 (अन्तःपुर-शोक, दशरथस्य विषाद)
अनुष्टुप्
Narrative-solemn
मध्यम-गान्धार-प्रधान, स्थिर-लय
FAQs
Dharma includes accountability: harsh speech born of grief has consequences, and a ruler bound by vows must confront the suffering his decisions have caused.
After Kausalya’s bitter reproach, Dasharatha is left shaken and reflects in sorrow.
Dasharatha’s conscience and moral burden are emphasized—he does not dismiss the reproach but inwardly wrestles with it.
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