Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 20

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

मया हि चिरपुष्टेन दुखसंवर्धितेन च।विप्रयुज्यत कौशल्या फलकाले धिगस्तु माम्।।।।

Transliteration

mayā hi cirapuṣṭena duḥkhasaṁvardhitena ca |

viprayujyata kauśalyā phalakāle dhig astu mām ||

Translation

久しく私を養い、苦難のうちに育ててくれたカウサリヤーが、実りの時にこそ私と別れねばならぬ――ああ、我が身の恥よ。

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• चिरपुष्टेन: nurtured for long
• चिरपुष्टेन: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर + पुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (चिरेण पुष्टः)

• दुःखसंवर्धितेन: reared with hardship
• दुःखसंवर्धितेन: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + संवर्धित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन संवर्धितः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विप्रयुज्यत: was separated
• विप्रयुज्यत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+प्र√युज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: ‘was separated’)

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• कौशल्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• फलकाले: at the time of fruition
• फलकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (फलस्य कालः)

• धिक्: shame!
• धिक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/interjection)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धिक् (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-निपात (interjection of censure)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive use), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Context

Kausalya nurtured me for a long time and reared me with great difficulty. When she was going to enjoy the fruits of her labour, I have been separated from her. Fie upon me!

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Gratitude as dharma: Rama recognizes a parent’s sacrifice and feels moral pain that she is denied the ‘fruit’ of her care.

What is the narrative situation?

While departing for exile, Rama grieves that Kausalya is separated from him at the very moment she should have enjoyed his kingship and presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (thankfulness): Rama’s deep acknowledgment of his mother’s long effort and suffering.