Shloka 5

कौशल्याविलापः

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

Devanagari script

पातयित्वा तु कैकेय्या रामं स्थानाद्यथेष्टतः।प्रदिष्टो रक्षसां भागः पर्वणीवाहिताग्निना।।।।

Transliteration

pātayitvā tu kaikeyyā rāmaṃ sthānād yatheṣṭataḥ |

pradiṣṭo rakṣasāṃ bhāgaḥ parvaṇīva āhitāgninā ||

Translation

കൈകേയി തന്റെ ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം രാമനെ അവന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ സ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് താഴെയിറക്കി; പർവ്വദിനത്തിൽ യാഗാഗ്നി ജ്വലിപ്പിച്ച് ദേവന്മാർക്കുള്ള ഹവിർഭാഗം രാക്ഷസർക്കു നല്കുന്ന യജമാനനെപ്പോലെ അവൾ പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• pātayitvā: having cast down
• pātayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा); 'having caused to fall/overthrown'

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात)

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karta/Agent (कर्ता) (agent of gerund action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• sthānāt: from (his) position/place
• sthānāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• yathā-iṣṭataḥ: as she wished
• yathā-iṣṭataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + iṣṭa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial expression; yathā + iṣṭataḥ (ablative adverb from iṣṭa) = 'as she pleased/at will'

• pradiṣṭaḥ: is allotted
• pradiṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-diś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'assigned/given'

• rakṣasām: of the rakshasas
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective), Genitive (6th), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhāgaḥ: share/portion
• bhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of pradiṣṭaḥ, as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• parvaṇi: on a festival/new-moon day
• parvaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

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

• āhita-agninā: by the sacrificer (one with consecrated fires)
• āhita-agninā: Karta/Agent (कर्ता) (agent in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhita (कृदन्त, √dhā धातु) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'āhitaḥ agniḥ yasya saḥ' = one who has established the sacred fires (sacrificer)

Context

Moving crookedly like a snake, Kaikeyi has released her venom on Rama, the best among men. Now she will move about freely like a she-serpent that has cast off its slough.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kaikeyi
• Rakshasas (rākṣasāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is moral and cosmic order: rightful shares must go to rightful recipients. Misplacing what is due—whether in ritual or governance—symbolizes adharma and invites disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya condemns the injustice of removing Rama from his position and sending him away, framing it as a reversal of sacred propriety.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s legitimacy and worthiness are emphasized—he is ‘due’ honor and position, just as the gods are due their offering-share.