Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 40

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अतो दुःखतरं किं नु प्रमदानां भविष्यति।मम शोको विलापश्च यादृशोऽयमनन्तकः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.40

Transliteration

ato duḥkhataraṃ kiṃ nu pramadānāṃ bhaviṣyati | mama śoko vilāpaś ca yādṛśo ’yam anantakaḥ ||

Translation

女にとってこれ以上の苦しみがあろうか――この私のように、尽きることなき悲嘆と嘆きが。

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Word by Word

• अतः: therefore/then
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial particle (कारण/हेतु-अर्थ)

• दुःखतरम्: more painful
• दुःखतरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Comparative (तर), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with kiṃ

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• नु: indeed/then (question particle)
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative/emphatic particle (प्रश्न/अनुनासिक)

• प्रमदानाम्: of women
• प्रमदानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Simple future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• शोकः: sorrow
• शोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• विलापः: lamentation
• विलापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• यादृशः: such/as is
• यादृशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; correlates with ayam

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular

• अनन्तकः: endless
• अनन्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to śoka/vilāpa

Context

There cannnot be greater distress for any woman than such unending grief and lamentation (which I am now experiencing).

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It points to compassion as a dharmic necessity: when duty is pursued, the suffering of dependents—especially vulnerable family members—must be recognized as morally significant.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā describes her grief as limitless, emphasizing the emotional devastation caused by Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s vulnerability and sincerity are emphasized, presenting grief as an authentic human response rather than moral failure.