Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.46: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 46

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तदक्षयं महद्दुःखं नोत्सहे सहितुं चिरम्।विप्रकारं सपत्नीनामेवं जीर्णाऽपि राघव।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.46

Transliteration

tad akṣayaṃ mahad duḥkhaṃ notsahe sahituṃ ciram | viprakāraṃ sapatnīnām evaṃ jīrṇāpi rāghava ||

Translation

それゆえラाघヴァよ、老いたこの身には、この果てしなく大きな悲嘆を長く耐えることはできぬ。ましてや、他の妃たちの侮りに耐えられようか。

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Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; refers to the situation/insult

• अक्षयम्: unending
• अक्षयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies duḥkham

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies duḥkham

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation

• उत्सहे: I am able / I dare
• उत्सहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: utsah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• सहितुम्: to endure
• सहितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sah (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ciram (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (काल)

• विप्रकारम्: insult/ill-treatment
• विप्रकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object understood with sahitum

• सपत्नीनाम्: of co-wives
• सपत्नीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (प्रकार)

• जीर्णा: aged
• जीर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √jṛ (to grow old/decay); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate to speaker

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, concessive particle

• राघव: O Rāghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Context

Therefore, O Rama, I cannot at this old age endure this great, endless sorrow and the insults from co-wives for long.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It points to the limits of human endurance and the duty of compassion within family life; Dharma is violated when power is used to humiliate the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā tells Rāma that the exile and the resulting social humiliation from rival queens have become unbearable, especially in her old age.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vulnerability paired with truthfulness—she openly acknowledges her frailty rather than masking it with pride.