Shloka 23

पिण्डदानदर्शनम्

The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

तां परिष्वज्य दुःखार्तां माता दुहितरं यथा।वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.103.23।।

Transliteration

tāṃ pariṣvajya duḥkhārtāṃ mātā duhitaraṃ yathā | vanavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt || 2.103.23 ||

Translation

വനവാസം മൂലം ക്ഷീണിച്ചു ദീനയായി ദുഃഖാർത്തയായ സീതയെ, അമ്മ മകളെ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്യുന്നതുപോലെ കൗസല്യ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്ത് വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (सीताम्)

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+स्वज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having embraced'

• दुःखार्ताम्: distressed with grief
• दुःखार्ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier of ताम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख-आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन आर्ता)

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

• दुहितरम्: daughter
• दुहितरम्: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोगे (as 'daughter')

• यथा: as if / like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (as/like)

• वनवासकृशाम्: emaciated by forest-dwelling
• वनवासकृशाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier of ताम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन-वास + कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वनवासेन कृशा)

• दीनाम्: wretched / poor
• दीनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (ताम्)

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to माता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Like a mother to her daughter, Kausalya embraced the wretched Sita, who was afflicted with sorrow, and emaciated due to her stay in the forest, and said to her:

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Sītā
• vana (forest)
• vanavāsa (exile)

FAQs

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

Compassion aligned with dharma: Kausalyā responds to suffering not with blame but with protective, maternal care, honoring Sītā’s dignity amid hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

After the exile years, Sītā is seen in a visibly weakened state; Kausalyā embraces her and begins speaking with deep concern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s karuṇā (tender compassion) and maryādā (noble restraint) in treating Sītā as her own daughter.