Shloka 24

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

नन्वसौ काञ्चनैर्बाणैर्महावीर्यो महाभुजः।युगान्त इव भूतानि सागरानपि निर्दहेत्।।2.61.24।।

Transliteration

nanv asau kāñcanair bāṇair mahāvīryo mahābhujaḥ |

yugānta iva bhūtāni sāgarān api nirdahēt || 2.61.24 ||

Translation

നിശ്ചയം, മഹാവീര്യനും മഹാഭുജനും ആയ അവൻ തന്റെ കാഞ്ചനബാണങ്ങളാൽ യുഗാന്തത്തിൽപോലെ സകലഭൂതങ്ങളെയും ദഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, ജീവികളെയും സമുദ്രങ്ങളെയും പോലും ദഹിപ്പിക്കാൻ കഴിയും.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tādṛśaḥ: such
• tādṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इति विशेषण

• siṃha-balaḥ: lion-strong
• siṃha-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘lion-strength’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इति विशेषण

• vṛṣabha-akṣaḥ: bull-eyed
• vṛṣabha-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘bull-eyed’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इति विशेषण

• nara-ṛṣabhaḥ: best of men
• nara-ṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘bull among men’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• svayam: by himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक-अव्यय (by oneself)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (indeed/only)

• hataḥ: killed
• hataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इति विशेषण

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• jalajena: by a fish (water-born)
• jalajena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ātmajaḥ: offspring
• ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘self-born’ = offspring), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/like)

Context

Even if all the worlds were to unite and fight against him, he will not fear. Thisrighteous Rama will re-establish justice in this unrighteous world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• oceans (sāgara)

FAQs

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

Might must be governed by dharma: the capacity to destroy does not justify destruction; restraint and right purpose define righteous power.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker magnifies Rāma’s power to show that his compliance is voluntary and ethical, not due to inability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Extraordinary strength held under moral discipline—power subordinated to truth and duty.