Shloka 1

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

वनं गते धर्मपरे रामे रमयतां वरे।कौसल्या रुदती स्वार्ता भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.61.1।।

Transliteration

vanaṃ gate dharmapare rāme ramayatāṃ vare |

kausalyā rudatī svārtā bhartāram idam abravīt ||

Translation

ധർമ്മപരനായും മറ്റുള്ളവരെ ആനന്ദിപ്പിക്കുന്നവരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനുമായ രാമൻ വനത്തിലേക്കു പോയപ്പോൾ, കൗസല്യ സ്വാർത്ഥജന്യമായ കടുത്ത വ്യഥയിൽ കരഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ട് ഭർത്താവിനോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gate: when (he) had gone
• gate: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त, √gam/गम्; PPP)
• Form: PPP, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with rāme

• dharma-pare: devoted to duty
• dharma-pare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (devoted to dharma), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; rāme-विशेषण (locative absolute)

• rāme: when Rama (was)
• rāme: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• ramayatām: of those who please (others)
• ramayatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramayat (कृदन्त, √ram/रम्; present active participle causative)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; वरे-विशेषण; ‘of those who delight (others)’

• vare: among the best
• vare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘among the best’ (locative of sphere)

• kausalyā: Kausalya
• kausalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rudatī: weeping
• rudatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudatī (कृदन्त, √rud/रुद्; present active participle)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कौसल्या-विशेषण

• svārtā: in bitter anguish
• svārtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘self-afflicted/anguished’

• bhartāram: to her husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म/सम्प्रदान-प्राय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

When Rama, the greatest among those who please the people, he who was conscious of his duty left for the forest. Kausalya, sobbing in bitter anguish, said to her husband:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• Kauśalyā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as Rāma’s defining orientation—he accepts exile in obedience to righteous order—while the verse also acknowledges the human cost borne by family.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma has departed for the forest; Kauśalyā, overwhelmed, begins addressing Daśaratha about the calamity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharma-centered character (dharma-paratā) is highlighted even as Kauśalyā’s maternal grief is foregrounded.