Shloka 12

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

कदाऽयोध्यां महाबाहुः पुरीं वीरः प्रवेक्ष्यति।पुरस्कृत्य रथे सीतां वृषभो गोवधूमिव।।।।

Transliteration

kadāyodhyāṃ mahābāhuḥ purīṃ vīraḥ pravekṣyati | puraskṛtya rathe sītāṃ vṛṣabho govadhūm iva ||

Translation

മഹാബാഹുവായ ആ വീരൻ എപ്പോൾ അയോധ്യാനഗരിയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കും—രഥത്തിൽ സീതാദേവിയെ മുൻപിൽ ഇരുത്തി, പശുവിന്റെ പിന്നാലെ കാള നടക്കുന്നതുപോലെ?

Word by Word

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kālaviśeṣaṇa (कालविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb

• ayodhyām: Ayodhya
• ayodhyām: Karma (कर्म) (goal as object of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• mahā-bāhuḥ: mighty-armed (Rama)
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition to ayodhyām

• vīraḥ: the hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pravekṣyati: will enter
• pravekṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• puraskṛtya: having placed in front
• puraskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puras-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) from causative sense 'placing in front/honouring'

• rathe: on the chariot
• rathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म) (object of puraskṛtya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• vṛṣabhaḥ: a bull
• vṛṣabhaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• go-vadhūm: a cow (as bride/mate)
• go-vadhūm: Upameya (उपमेय) (object compared: sītām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + vadhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'goḥ vadhūḥ' = cow-bride (cow as mate)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

Context

When will the mighty-armed hero (Rama) enter the city of Ayodhya with Sita in front in the chariot, like a bull following the cow?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma
• Sītā
• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

It gestures to household and royal dharma: the righteous prince is envisioned returning with his wife in honor, restoring both familial order and public auspiciousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā imagines a future homecoming procession where Rāma re-enters Ayodhyā with Sītā on the chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective, dignified leadership and conjugal responsibility (pati-dharma) implied by the respectful placement of Sītā.