Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 24

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

अल्पभाग्या हि मे माता कौशल्या रहिता मया।शेते परमदुःखार्ता पतिता शोकसागरे।।।।

Transliteration

alpabhāgyā hi me mātā kauśalyā rahitā mayā |

śete paramaduḥkhārtā patitā śokasāgare ||

Translation

Ibuku Kausalyā, tanpa diriku, sungguh bernasib malang; dihimpit dukacita yang amat, tentu baginda terbaring seakan jatuh ke lautan kesedihan.

Word by Word

• अल्पभाग्या: ill-fated
• अल्पभाग्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• कौशल्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘माता’ इत्यस्य apposition

• रहिता: bereft
• रहिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कौशल्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मया: of me
• मया: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; रहिता इत्यत्र करण-भावः (bereft of me)

• शेते: lies
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• परमदुःखार्ता: extremely distressed
• परमदुःखार्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परमेण दुःखेन आर्ता)

• पतिता: fallen
• पतिता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कौशल्या’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• शोकसागरे: in an ocean of sorrow
• शोकसागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शोकस्य सागरः)

Context

My mother is unlucky as she has been separated from me. Extremely distressed, she must have plunged into an ocean of grief.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassion for those harmed indirectly by righteous choices; Rama’s adherence to truth and duty still carries the obligation to acknowledge and mitigate others’ suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

As exile begins, Rama imagines Kausalya’s condition back in Ayodhya—prostrated by grief at separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion): Rama’s heart remains with his mother even while he walks the path of vowed duty.