Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 25

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

व्रतोपवासनिरता या नारी परमोत्तमा।भर्तारं नानुवर्तेत सा तु पापगतिर्भवेत्।।2.24.25।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.24.25

Transliteration

vratopavāsa-niratā yā nārī paramottamā | bhartāraṃ nānuvarteta sā tu pāpa-gatir bhavet || 2.24.25 ||

Translation

വ്രതോപവാസങ്ങളിൽ നിരതയായ പരമോത്തമയായ സ്ത്രീയെങ്കിലും, ഭർത്താവിനെ അനുഗമിച്ച് കൂടെ നിൽക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ അവൾ പാപഗതിയിലേക്കു വീഴും.

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Word by Word

• व्रतोपवासनिरता: devoted to vows and fasting
• व्रतोपवासनिरता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत + उपवास + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्रतेषु उपवासेषु च निरता)

• या: who (a woman)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; याया विशेष्य

• परमोत्तमा: most excellent
• परमोत्तमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परमश्चासौ उत्तमा)

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अनुवर्तेत: should follow
• अनुवर्तेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु) + अनु (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय-निपात

• पापगतिः: evil destiny
• पापगतिः: Viśeṣya/Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पापा गतिः)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

A woman may be highly pious engaged in vows and fastings, but if she does not follow her husband, she will be condemned to hell.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Husband (Daśaratha as contextual referent)

FAQs

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

The verse asserts a role-based ethic: ritual piety (vows/fasts) is considered incomplete without fidelity to one’s primary relational duty within marriage.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma discourages Kauśalyā from leaving the palace by emphasizing her duty to remain aligned with Daśaratha rather than follow Rāma to the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s insistence on maryādā—prioritizing established duties over emotion-driven choices.