Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 23

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

नैतस्य सहिता लोका भयं कुर्युर्महामृथे।अधर्मंत्विह धर्मात्मा लोकं धर्मेण योजयेत्।।2.61.23।।

Transliteration

naitasya sahitā lokā bhayaṃ kuryur mahāmṛthe |

adharmaṃ tv iha dharmātmā lokaṃ dharmeṇa yojayet || 2.61.23 ||

Translation

മഹായുദ്ധത്തിൽ സർവ്വലോകങ്ങളും ഒന്നിച്ചാലും അവനെ ഭയപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിയില്ല. ഇവിടെ അധർമ്മം വളരുമ്പോൾ, ആ ധർമ്മാത്മാവ് ധർമ്മം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ലോകത്തെ വീണ്ടും ധർമ്മത്തിലേക്ക് നയിക്കും.

Word by Word

• nanu: surely/indeed
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/निपात (interrogative-emphatic particle: ‘surely/indeed?’)

• asau: that one (Rama)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kāñcanaiḥ: with golden
• kāñcanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; बाणैः इति विशेषण

• bāṇaiḥ: arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• mahā-vīryaḥ: mighty
• mahā-vīryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘great in valor’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; असौ इति विशेषण

• mahā-bhujaḥ: long-armed
• mahā-bhujaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘great-armed/long-armed’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; असौ इति विशेषण

• yugānte: at the end of an age
• yugānte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• bhūtāni: beings
• bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• sāgarān: oceans
• sāgarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक निपात (even)

• nirdahēt: would burn up
• nirdahēt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√dah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

A powerful tiger will not allow its tail to be twisted. In the same way Rama also will not tolerate an insult of this sort.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is both the goal and the means: the righteous restore social order not through adharma, but through principled action aligned with truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker portrays Rāma as fearless and as a restorer of righteousness amid a climate of injustice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness grounded in dharma, and commitment to re-establishing justice without moral compromise.