Shloka 15

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

एवं कनीयसा भ्रात्रा भुक्तं राज्यं विशाम्पते।भ्राता ज्येष्ठो वरिष्ठश्च किमर्थं नावमंस्यते।।2.61.15।।

Transliteration

evaṃ kanīyasā bhrātrā bhuktaṃ rājyaṃ viśāṃpate |

bhrātā jyeṣṭho variṣṭhaś ca kimarthaṃ nāvamaṃsyate ||

Translation

അതുപോലെ, ഹേ വിശാംപതേ (മനുഷ്യാധിപതേ), ഇളയ സഹോദരൻ രാജ്യം ‘ഭോഗിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ’, ജ്യേഷ്ഠനും ശ്രേഷ്ഠനുമായ സഹോദരൻ അതിനെ എന്തുകൊണ്ട് അവഗണിക്കാതിരിക്കണം?

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• कनीयसा: by the younger
• कनीयसा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative) विशेषणम् for भ्रात्रा

• भ्रात्रा: by (his) brother
• भ्रात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुक्तम्: enjoyed/occupied
• भुक्तम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; विधेय-विशेषणम् for राज्यम्

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• विशाम्पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—विशां पतिः (lord of people)

• भ्राता: the brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठः: elder
• ज्येष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् for भ्राता

• वरिष्ठः: most excellent
• वरिष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अतिशय-तुलनात्मक (superlative) विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• किमर्थम्: why?
• किमर्थम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + अर्थम् (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative: for what reason/why)

• न: not
• न: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अवमंस्यते: will disdain
• अवमंस्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मन् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—अवज्ञास्यते (will disdain)

Context

O Lord of the world! why not the eldest and the most distinguished among the brothers likewise disdain the kingdom enjoyed by the younger brother?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (viśāṃpati)
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is rightful order and legitimacy: what belongs to the elder by justice should not be made morally ‘second-hand’ through political maneuvering.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā argues that once Bharata rules, the kingdom becomes ethically tainted for Rāma—like a ‘leftover’—thus warning Daśaratha of irreversible harm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Concern for maryādā (propriety) and royal righteousness—Kauśalyā defends the principle of rightful succession and honor.