Valmiki Ramayana 2.44.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 25

सुमित्रोपदेशः · Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Spoken by Sumitra to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya palace (inner quarters)Places named: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

त्वया शेषो जनश्चैव समाश्वास्यो यदाऽनघे ।

किमिदानीमिदं देवि करोषि हृदि विक्लबम् ॥२५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.44.25

Transliteration

tvayā śeṣo janaś caiva samāśvāsyo yadā ’naghe |

kim idānīm idaṃ devi karoṣi hṛdi viklabam ||25||

Translation

Wahai yang tidak bercela, wahai Devi—sedangkan engkaulah yang patut menenteramkan semua yang tinggal, mengapa kini engkau membuat hatimu sendiri gementar dan lemah?

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Word by Word

• tvayā: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd), Singular; pronoun
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• śeṣaḥ: remaining
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying janaḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• janaḥ: people
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)

• eva: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)
• Role: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)

• samāśvāsyaḥ: to be consoled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-śvas (धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (यत्/तव्यत्-class), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective: 'to be consoled'
• Role: Kārya (कार्य/Obligation predicate)

• yadā: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb/conjunction (कालवाचक)
• Role: Kāla (काल/Time)

• anaghe: O sinless one
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• kim: what?
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; interrogative used adverbially
• Role: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रश्न/Interrogative)

• idānīm: now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• idam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of karoṣi
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• devi: O queen
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• karoṣi: you do / make
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• hṛdi: in (your) heart
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• viklabam: agitated / faint-hearted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viklaba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying idam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• janaś caiva = janaḥ + ca + eva (ḥ→ś before c)
• yadā’naghe = yadā + anaghe (ā+a→ā’)
• kimidānīmidaṃ = kim + idānīm + idam (word boundaries restored)

Context

O sinless lady, O queen! when you are overcome by fear, how can you consoleothers?

The teaching

Those placed as supports for others must first steady themselves; leadership begins with inner composure.

Duties in tension

• Personal grief versus public duty to console others
• Maternal vulnerability versus queenly steadiness

Ethical theme

Svadharma / dhṛti (fortitude)

How it resolves

Role-dharma exhortation (āśvāsana)

For your practice

Practice of dhṛti: breath, remembrance of Rama’s virtues, and restraint of panic to serve others compassionately.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Steadfast, admonitory, trembling

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Consolation
• Courage
• Royal Duty

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadiness in adversity: one who bears responsibility for others should first stabilize one’s own mind, so that one can truly console and guide the community.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumitrā speaks to the grieving Kausalyā, urging her not to collapse inwardly, since others in the palace depend on her composure after Rāma’s departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and leadership through self-control—emotional discipline as a prerequisite for supporting others.