Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 6

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा शुभमनिन्दिता।कथं क्रव्यादसिंहानां शब्दं श्रोष्यत्यशोभनम्।।2.61.6।।

Transliteration

gītavāditranirghoṣaṃ śrutvā śubham aninditā | kathaṃ kravyādasiṃhānāṃ śabdaṃ śroṣyaty aśobhanam || 2.61.6 ||

Translation

ശുഭമായ ഗാനങ്ങളുടെയും വാദ്യങ്ങളുടെയും മധുരധ്വനി കേൾക്കാൻ പതിവുള്ള അനിന്ദ്യയായ സീത, മാംസഭോജികളായ സിംഹാദികളുടെ അശുഭ ഗർജ്ജനശബ്ദം എങ്ങനെ സഹിച്ച് കേൾക്കും?

Word by Word

• गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषम्: the loud sound of songs and instruments
• गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत + वादित्र + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/समाहारार्थः—गीत-वादित्रयोः निर्घोषः

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) for गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषम्

• अनिन्दिता: the blameless lady
• अनिन्दिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिन्दिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधित-नायिका/कर्ता-स्थानम्

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• क्रव्यादसिंहानाम्: of carnivores and lions
• क्रव्यादसिंहानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रव्याद + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—क्रव्यादाः च सिंहाः च

• शब्दम्: sound
• शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोष्यति: will hear
• श्रोष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अशोभनम्: inauspicious
• अशोभनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) for शब्दम्

Context

How can the blameless Sita, used to the soft sound of songs and musicalinstruments hear the frightful roars of lions and other carnivorous animals?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lions (siṃha)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is evaluated through the lens of harm: Kausalyā underscores that righteous policy should not inflict terror and insecurity upon the innocent; ethical action must consider psychological suffering as well.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing her lament, Kausalyā contrasts palace music with the frightening sounds of the wilderness to portray the exile’s emotional cost to Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s purity (aninditā) and the courage she must summon in order to remain aligned with Rāma’s dharmic path.