Shloka 2

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

यद्यपि त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रथितं ते महद्यशः।सानुक्रोशो वदान्यश्च प्रियवादी च राघवः।।2.61.2।।

Transliteration

yadyapi triṣu lokeṣu prathitaṃ te mahad yaśaḥ |

sānukrośo vadānyaś ca priyavādī ca rāghavaḥ || 2.61.2 ||

Translation

നിന്റെ മഹായശസ് ത്രിലോകങ്ങളിലും പ്രസിദ്ധമായിരുന്നാലും—ഹേ രാഘവ, നീ കരുണാസമ്പന്നനും ദാനശീലനും മധുരവചനനും ആകുന്നു—

Word by Word

• yadi: though
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional: if/though)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक (even)

• triṣu: in three
• triṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; लोकेषु-विशेषण

• lokeṣu: worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• prathitam: renowned
• prathitam: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathita (कृदन्त, √prath/प्रथ्; PPP)
• Form: PPP, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; yaśaḥ-विशेषण

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘your’

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; yaśaḥ-विशेषण

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sā-anukrośaḥ: compassionate
• sā-anukrośaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + anukrośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (compassionate), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; rāghavaḥ-विशेषण

• vadānyaḥ: generous
• vadānyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; rāghavaḥ-विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• priya-vādī: sweet-tongued
• priya-vādī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + vādī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (sweet-speaking), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; rāghavaḥ-विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Just as a tiger will not eat the food acquired by another beast, Rama, the tiger (best) among men will not accept the kingdom enjoyed by others.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Daśaratha)

FAQs

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

Public fame and royal authority must rest on lived virtues—compassion, generosity, and truthful, gentle speech—rather than mere power.

What is the narrative situation?

In Sarga 61, the speaker frames Daśaratha’s known virtues while moving toward a sharper critique of the unfolding injustice around Rāma’s succession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The king’s ideal virtues: compassion (anukrośa), generosity (vadānya), and pleasing/ethical speech (priyavāda).