Shloka 14

कौशल्याविलापः

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

Devanagari script

प्रविशन्तौ कदाऽयोध्यां द्रक्ष्यामि शुभकुण्डलौ।उदग्रायुधनिस्त्रिंशौ सश्रृङ्गाविव पर्वतौ।।।।

Transliteration

praviśantau kadāyodhyāṃ drakṣyāmi śubhakuṇḍalau | udagrāyudhanistriṃśau saśṛṅgāv iva parvatau ||

Translation

അയോധ്യയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കുന്ന അവരെ—ശുഭകുണ്ഡലധാരികൾ, ഉയർത്തിപ്പിടിച്ച ആയുധങ്ങളും നിസ്ത്രിംശങ്ങളും ഉള്ളവർ—ഞാൻ എപ്പോൾ കാണും, ഉയർന്ന ശിഖരങ്ങളുള്ള രണ്ടു പർവ്വതങ്ങൾപോലെ?

Word by Word

• प्रविशन्तौ: (the two) entering
• प्रविशन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• कदा: when?
• कदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative)

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya (into)
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• द्रक्ष्यामि: shall I see
• द्रक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शुभ-कुण्डलौ: wearing auspicious earrings
• शुभ-कुण्डलौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुभे कुण्डले यस्य/ययोः)

• उदग्र-आयुध-निस्त्रिंशौ: with weapons and swords held high
• उदग्र-आयुध-निस्त्रिंशौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udagra (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + nistriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः (उदग्रे आयुधे निस्त्रिंशौ/निस्त्रिंशयुक्तौ; determinative)

• स-शृङ्गौ: having peaks
• स-शृङ्गौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (शृङ्गैः सह = having peaks)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• पर्वतौ: two mountains
• पर्वतौ: Upamana (उपमान/Standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

When shall I see both of them wearing auspicious ear-rings and holding poweful weapons (bows) and swords high, like two mountain peaks?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• weapons (āyudha)
• sword (nistriṃśa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to protection: righteous princes are envisioned as steady, elevated guardians—symbolized by mountain imagery—who uphold order and safety.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā longs for a visual confirmation of her sons’ return, imagining their martial splendor as they enter the capital.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and readiness to defend (kṣātra-vīrya), presented as dignified strength rather than aggression.