Valmiki Ramayana 2.103.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 24

पिण्डदानदर्शनम्

The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

विदेहराजस्य सुता स्नुषा दशरथस्य च।रामपत्नी कथं दुःखं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने।।2.103.24।।

Transliteration

videharājasya sutā snuṣā daśarathasya ca | rāmapatnī kathaṃ duḥkhaṃ samprāptā nirjane vane || 2.103.24 ||

Translation

വിദേഹരാജന്റെ പുത്രിയും ദശരഥന്റെ മരുമകളും ശ്രീരാമന്റെ പത്നിയുമായ അവൾ എങ്ങനെ നിർജന വനത്തിൽ ഇത്തരമൊരു ദുഃഖത്തിലേക്ക് എത്തി?

Word by Word

• विदेहराजस्य: of the king of Videha
• विदेहराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदेह-राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विदेहानां राजा)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्नुषा: daughter-in-law
• स्नुषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Dasaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• रामपत्नी: Rama's wife
• रामपत्नी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य पत्नी)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: 'how')

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सम्प्राप्ता: has met with / undergone
• सम्प्राप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active/PPP in sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; predicate to रामपत्नी

• निर्जने: desolate
• निर्जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (वने)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Context

How is it that Sita, daughter of Janaka, king of Videha, daughter-in-law of Dasaratha and wife of Rama, has to undergo such hardships in the lonely forest.

Characters & Entities

• Videha
• Janaka (implied by ‘king of Videha’)
• Sītā
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is measured by how the vulnerable are treated: Kausalyā highlights the moral dissonance of a royal daughter and devoted wife enduring abandonment-like hardship, prompting reflection on duty and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā recognizes Sītā’s noble lineage and marriage-status and laments that such a person had to live in harsh isolation during exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s moral sensitivity and protective concern for Sītā’s honor and well-being.