Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.26 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 26

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

भर्तु श्शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमुत्तमम्।अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात्।।2.24.26।।

Transliteration

bhartuḥ śuśrūṣayā nārī labhate svargam uttamam | api yā nir-namaskārā nivṛttā deva-pūjanāt || 2.24.26 ||

Translation

夫への恭敬なる奉仕によって、女人は最上の天界を得る——たとえ礼拝をせず、神々への供養を退いたとしても。

Word by Word

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शुश्रूषया: by service
• शुश्रूषया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• लभते: attains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: highest
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्वर्गम्)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ-निपात (even/also)

• या: who
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम

• निर्नमस्कारा: without salutations
• निर्नमस्कारा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक विशेषण (without salutations)

• निवृत्ता: having abstained
• निवृत्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + √वृत् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying या)

• देवपूजनात्: from worship of gods
• देवपूजनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवानां पूजनम्)

Context

A woman who serves her husband will attain the highest heaven even if she pays no homage to gods and abstains from worshipping them.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Devas (gods, generic)
• Husband (Daśaratha as contextual referent)

FAQs

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

It elevates relational duty as a direct spiritual path: faithful service within one’s rightful sphere is presented as dharma-bearing and merit-yielding, even surpassing external ritual.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues instructing Kauśalyā that her proper dharma is to remain and serve Daśaratha, rather than accompany Rāma into exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized is steadfast fidelity and service (śuśrūṣā) as an expression of dharma in domestic life.