Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.36 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 36

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

गच्छेदानीं महाबाहो क्षेमेण पुनरागतः।नन्दयिष्यसि मां पुत्र साम्ना वाक्येन चारुणा।।2.24.36।।

Transliteration

gacchedānīṃ mahābāho kṣemeṇa punar āgataḥ |

nandayiṣyasi māṃ putra sāmnā vākyena cāruṇā || 2.24.36 ||

Translation

ഹേ മഹാബാഹോ, ഇനി പോകുക; ക്ഷേമത്തോടെ വീണ്ടും മടങ്ങിവരിക. മകനേ, മടങ്ങിവന്നാൽ സ്നിഗ്ധവും മധുരവുമായ വാക്കുകളാൽ എന്നെ വീണ്ടും ആനന്ദിപ്പിക്കുമല്ലോ.

Word by Word

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• mahābāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: mahābāhuḥ yasya saḥ; Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana

• kṣemeṇa: safely; with safety
• kṣemeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (instrumental), Eka-vacana; adverbial instrumental

• punar-āgataḥ: returned again
• punar-āgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: punar (अव्यय) + āgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: āgata: Kta participle from ā-√gam; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; with adverb punar

• nandayiṣyasi: you will gladden
• nandayiṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nand (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: Luṭ (Simple Future), Madhyama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada; causative: 'will gladden'

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (accusative), Eka-vacana

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana

• sāmnā: with gentleness; softly
• sāmnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Tṛtīyā (instrumental), Eka-vacana; adverbial instrumental 'gently'

• vākyena: with words; by speech
• vākyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Tṛtīyā (instrumental), Eka-vacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• cāruṇā: sweet; pleasing
• cāruṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Tṛtīyā (instrumental), Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of vākyena

Context

O Rama! if you, being the delight of the world, are (ordered) to go to the forest, ithas to be said certainly that destiny which rules everything is all-powerful.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Even amid sorrow, Kausalyā upholds dharma by giving a mother’s blessing rather than obstructing a righteous course. The verse values gentle speech (mṛdu-vāk) as an ethical practice.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā, after speaking her grief, permits Rāma to depart and prays for his safe return, longing for his comforting words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s composed benevolence and Rāma’s expected sweetness of speech—restraint, tenderness, and respectful conduct.