Shloka 8

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

पद्मवर्णं सुकेशान्तं पद्मनिश्श्वासमुत्तमम्।कदा द्रक्ष्यामि रामस्य वदनं पुष्करेक्षणम्।।2.61.8।।

Transliteration

padma-varṇaṃ su-keśāntaṃ padma-niśśvāsaṃ uttamam | kadā drakṣyāmi rāmasya vadanaṃ puṣkarekṣaṇam || 2.61.8 ||

Translation

പദ്മവർണ്ണവും സുന്ദരകേശങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതവും പദ്മസൗരഭമുള്ള ശ്വാസവുമുള്ള, പുഷ്കരസമാന നേത്രങ്ങളുള്ള ശ്രീരാമന്റെ അത്യുത്തമ മുഖം ഞാൻ വീണ്ടും എപ്പോൾ ദർശിക്കും?

Word by Word

• पद्मवर्णम्: lotus-hued
• पद्मवर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—पद्मस्य वर्ण इव

• सुकेशान्तम्: with beautiful hair
• सुकेशान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + केशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुन्दरः केशान्तः यस्य (having beautiful hair-ends)

• पद्मनिश्श्वासम्: with lotus-scented breath
• पद्मनिश्श्वासम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + निश्श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पद्मवत् निश्श्वासः (lotus-fragrant breath)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कदा: when?
• कदा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of time)

• द्रक्ष्यामि: shall I see
• द्रक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्करेक्षणम्: lotus-eyed
• पुष्करेक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कर + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पुष्करवत् ईक्षणम् यस्य (lotus-eyed)

Context

When shall I see Rama with his lotus-hued face, his beautiful locks of hair, breath of lotus fragrance and eyes like blue lotus?

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It reflects the dharmic ideal that virtue and beauty are harmonized in Rama; longing for his presence becomes longing for the visible embodiment of righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya mourns Rama’s absence and recalls his features, asking when she will see him again.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s auspiciousness and purity (inner virtue expressed outwardly) are emphasized through idealized imagery.