Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.27 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 27

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

शुश्रूषामेव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता।एष धर्मः पुरा दृष्टो लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्मृतः।।2.24.27।।

Transliteration

śuśrūṣām eva kurvīta bhartuḥ priyahite ratā |

eṣa dharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭo loke vede śrutaḥ smṛtaḥ || 2.24.27 ||

Translation

ഭർത്താവിന് പ്രിയവും ഹിതകരവും ആയതിൽ നിരതയായി, ഭാര്യ ഭർത്തൃശുശ്രൂഷ മാത്രം ചെയ്യണം. ഇതാണ് ധർമ്മം—പുരാതനകാലം മുതൽ ലോകത്തിൽ കണ്ടതും, വേദത്തിൽ ശ്രുതമായതും, സ്മൃതികളിൽ സ്ഥാപിതമായതും.

Word by Word

• शुश्रूषाम्: service
• शुश्रूषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• एव: alone, indeed
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भर्तुः: of the husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रियहिते: in what is dear and beneficial
• प्रियहिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (प्रियं च हितं च)

• रता: devoted
• रता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied 'she')

• एषः: this
• एषः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धर्मः: dharma, duty
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/in ancient times)

• दृष्टः: is seen
• दृष्टः: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (seen)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• श्रुतः: is heard
• श्रुतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (heard)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/recorded
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (remembered/declared)

Context

For my sake, O devi! worship the fire-god with offerings of oblations and flowers, and brahmins who are true to religious vows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Veda
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as socially and scripturally validated duty: steadfast, benevolent service within one’s role, aligned with what supports the household’s moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma prepares to depart for exile, he instructs his mother on proper conduct and religious-ethical stability during his absence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s maryādā (normative righteousness): he anchors advice in tradition (loka), revelation (Veda), and remembered law (Smṛti).