Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 3

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

यस्य भृत्याश्च दासाश्च मृष्टान्यन्नानि भुञ्जते।कथं स भोक्ष्यतेऽनाथो वने मूलफलान्ययम्।।2.24.3।।

Transliteration

yasya bhṛtyāś ca dāsāś ca mṛṣṭāny annāni bhuñjate |

kathaṃ sa bhokṣyate ’nātho vane mūlaphalāny ayam || 2.24.3 ||

Translation

従者や僕らが美味なる食を口にする暮らしに慣れた彼が、今や頼るものなく森にて根と果のみを食して、いかに生きてゆけようか。

Word by Word

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• bhṛtyāḥ: servants
• bhṛtyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• dāsāḥ: attendants/slaves
• dāsāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• mṛṣṭāni: delicious
• mṛṣṭāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying annāni)

• annāni: foods
• annāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• bhuñjate: eat/enjoy
• bhuñjate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhokṣyate: will eat
• bhokṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• anāthaḥ: helpless/without protector
• anāthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mūla-phalāni: roots and fruits
• mūla-phalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: mūlāni ca phalāni ca

• ayam: this (man)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

A wife who serves her husband and who is engaged in doing good to him is righteous. This dharma exists in this world since ancient times, declared in the Vedas and the smritis.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds compassionate concern and the human cost of dharma-driven renunciation—Kauśalyā’s love measures the hardship Rāma will endure when he accepts exile.

What is the narrative situation?

In Ayodhyā, as Rāma prepares for forest exile, Kauśalyā laments how someone raised in royal comfort can subsist on austere forest fare.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s maternal compassion and protective anxiety—virtues that coexist with respect for Rāma’s dharmic resolve.