Valmiki Ramayana 2.60.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 3

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं दण्डकान्नय मामपि।अथ तान्नानुगच्छामि गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.60.3

Transliteration

nivartaya rathaṃ śīghraṃ daṇḍakān naya mām api |

atha tān nānugacchāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam ||

Translation

ただちに御車を引き返し、私もダンダカの森へお連れください。もし彼らに従えぬなら、私はヤマの住処――死へと赴きましょう。

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Word by Word

• nivartaya: turn back
• nivartaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; causative sense in usage 'turn back'

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Singular

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण)

• daṇḍakān: to Dandaka (region)
• daṇḍakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Plural; destination as object with naya

• naya: take/lead
• naya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• atha: then/if
• atha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle; conditional/sequential (अथ)

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative, Plural

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation

• anugacchāmi: I follow
• anugacchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• gamiṣyāmi: I shall go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future) / commonly treated as simple future sense, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• yamakṣayam: to Yama's abode
• yamakṣayam: Gati/Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: yamasya kṣayaḥ (abode/realm of Yama); Pumlinga, Accusative, Singular

Context

Take me where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are. I do not wish to live even for a moment without them.

Characters & Entities

• Dandaka forest (Daṇḍaka)
• Yama

FAQs

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

It underscores the sincerity of commitment: Kausalya’s words show that for her, life’s meaning is inseparable from righteous kinship. The verse also reflects the human cost borne by families when dharma-driven vows (like exile) are upheld.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya urges Sumantra to reverse the chariot and bring her to the forest, expressing that failing to follow Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana would be tantamount to death for her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intensity of devotion and truthfulness of emotion—her grief becomes a firm, uncompromising resolve.