Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 30

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

प्राप्स्यसे परमं कामं मयि प्रत्यागते सति।यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम्।।2.24.30।।

Transliteration

prāpsyase paramaṃ kāmaṃ mayi pratyāgate sati |

yadi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dhārayiṣyati jīvitam || 2.24.30 ||

Translation

ನಾನು ಮರಳಿ ಬಂದಾಗ ನೀನು ಪರಮ ಕಾಮನೆಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುವೆ; ಧರ್ಮಭೃತರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆ ಅಷ್ಟರವರೆಗೆ ಜೀವವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದರೆ.

Word by Word

• prāpsyase: you will obtain
• prāpsyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Luṭ (Simple Future/लृट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person/मध्यम), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter/नपुंसक), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of kāmam

• kāmam: desire; wish
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Dvitīyā (accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• mayi: in me; with me
• mayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī-vibhakti (locative/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• pratyāgate: (when) returned
• pratyāgate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√ā-gam (धातु) (गत-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Saptamī (locative/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); used in locative absolute with sati

• sati: being; when (he) is
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √as (धातु) (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Saptamī (locative/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); locative absolute marker: 'while/when (he) is'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha/Upapada (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात)

• dharmabhṛtām: of the upholders of dharma
• dharmabhṛtām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (genitive determinative/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): dharmasya bhṛtaḥ; Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (genitive/षष्ठी), Bahu-vacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Prathamā-vibhakti (nominative/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• dhārayiṣyati: will sustain; will keep
• dhārayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Simple Future/लृट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter/नपुंसक), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

Context

If my father, who is the best among the upholders of righteousness, survives till I come back, you will have your highest desires fulfilled.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (father implied)
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to filial responsibility and truthful completion of vows; Rāma frames hope around the father’s life and the moral order he represents.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reassures Kauśalyā that fulfillment can come after his return—contingent on Daśaratha surviving the period of separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dutiful realism: compassionately offering hope while acknowledging uncertainty and impermanence.