Valmiki Ramayana 2.44.30 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 30

सुमित्रोपदेशः

Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

आश्वासयन्ती विविधैश्च वाक्यैर्वाक्योपचारे कुशलाऽनवद्या।रामस्य तां मातरमेवमुक्त्वादेवी सुमित्रा विरराम रामा।।।।

Transliteration

āśvāsayantī vividhaiś ca vākyair vākyopacāre kuśalā ’navadyā | rāmasya tāṃ mātaram evam uktvā devī sumitrā virarāma rāmā ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ രാമന്റെ മാതാവിനെ പലവിധ വചനങ്ങളാൽ ആശ്വസിപ്പിച്ച ശേഷം, വാക്യോപചാരത്തിൽ നിപുണയും നിർദോഷയും സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ സൗമ്യയുമായ ദേവി സുമിത്ര മൗനമായി.

Word by Word

• āśvāsayantī: consoling
• āśvāsayantī: Karta (कर्ता; participle qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śvas (धातु) + ṇic + śatṛ
• Form: Causative present active participle (णिच् + शतृ), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with sumitrā

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying vākyaiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vākyaiḥ: with words
• vākyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• vākyopacāre: in verbal courtesy/service
• vākyopacāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya-upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: vākya + upacāra (treatment/service by words); Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• kuśalā: skilled
• kuśalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying sumitrā

• anavadyā: blameless
• anavadyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anavadya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying sumitrā

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• tām: that
• tām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying mātaram

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable

• devī: the queen
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• sumitrā: Sumitra
• sumitrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• virarāma: ceased / fell silent
• virarāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ram (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rāmā: pleasant/cheerful (lady)
• rāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; epithet qualifying sumitrā

Context

Irreproachable and skilful in the use of words, queen Sumitra of cheerful disposition fell silent after thus consoling Rama's mother in various ways.

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Rāma
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsible speech: words used with skill, compassion, and propriety can restore moral clarity and emotional balance in times of crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes Sumitrā’s consolatory counsel and marks the close of her speech to Kausalyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumitrā’s wisdom and verbal ethics—faultless, timely, and healing speech.