Shloka 20

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

न हि मे जीविते किञ्चित्सामर्थ्यमिह कल्प्यते।अपश्यन्त्याः प्रियं पुत्रं महाबाहुं महाबलम्।।।।

Transliteration

na hi me jīvite kiñcit sāmarthyam iha kalpyate |

apaśyantyāḥ priyaṃ putraṃ mahābāhuṃ mahābalam ||

Translation

Jika aku tidak dapat melihat puteraku yang kukasihi—yang berlengan perkasa dan amat gagah—maka dalam hidup ini tiadalah lagi kekuatan bagiku untuk meneruskan langkah.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• मे: for me/of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीविते: in life
• जीविते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/with respect to life)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: anything/any
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म/Object: any)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite)

• सामर्थ्यम्: ability
• सामर्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmarthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this world)

• कल्प्यते: is possible/is conceived
• कल्प्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि/भावे (is possible/is deemed)

• अपश्यन्त्याः: (of me) not seeing
• अपश्यन्त्याः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√paś/√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of me not seeing’ (genitive absolute-like)

• प्रियम्: beloved
• प्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of पुत्रम्)

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महाबाहुम्: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• महाबलम्: very strong
• महाबलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महद् बलं यस्य)

Context

You have thrown away Rama from his place as per the whim of Kaikeyi, like the share of offering meant for gods given away to rakshasas by the sacrificers on the new Moon days.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how dharmic decisions must account for the vulnerable; when adharma prevails in policy (exile by manipulation), it devastates dependents and elders.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya expresses utter helplessness and loss of will to live due to Rama’s forced separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s protective strength (mahābāhu, mahābala) is highlighted as a source of security and hope for his mother and the kingdom.