Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 14

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणेष्वपि तृप्तेषु पश्चाद्भोक्तुं द्विजर्षभाः।नाभ्युपैतुमलं प्राज्ञा श्शृङ्गच्छेदमिवर्षभाः।।2.61.14।।

Transliteration

brāhmaṇeṣv api tṛpteṣu paścād bhoktuṃ dvijarṣabhāḥ |

nābhyupaitum alaṃ prājñāḥ śṛṅgacchedam ivarṣabhāḥ ||

Translation

Walaupun para brāhmaṇa telah puas, orang bijaksana—yang terbaik antara dwijāti—tidak akan bersetuju makan kemudian; bagaikan lembu jantan yang tidak sanggup menanggung pemotongan tanduknya.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: even if
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (even)

• तृप्तेषु: being satisfied
• तृप्तेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् for ब्राह्मणेषु

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालार्थक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• भोक्तुम्: to eat/partake
• भोक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• द्विजर्षभाः: the best of the twice-born
• द्विजर्षभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—द्विजानां ऋषभाः

• न: not
• न: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अभ्युपैतुम्: to accept
• अभ्युपैतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + उप + इ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive); अर्थः—स्वीकर्तुम्/अङ्गीकर्तुम् (to accept)

• अलम्: fit/appropriate
• अलम्: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (enough/fit; used with infinitive)

• प्राज्ञाः: the wise
• प्राज्ञाः: Visheshya/Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विजर्षभाणाम् विशेषणरूपेण

• शृङ्गच्छेदम्: the cutting of horns
• शृङ्गच्छेदम्: Upamana-object (उपमान-उपमेय-सम्बन्धे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग + छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शृङ्गस्य छेदः (cutting of horns)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (simile particle)

• ऋषभाः: bulls
• ऋषभाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपमानम् (simile subject)

Context

The bulls (best) among the wise brahmins would not like to accept the food after it is tasted by other brahmins, just as bulls dislike their horns being shorn.

Characters & Entities

• brāhmaṇas
• dvijarṣabha
• bulls (ṛṣabha)

FAQs

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

Dharma protects dignity and rightful order: accepting a diminished place is portrayed as a moral injury, not merely a social inconvenience.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā intensifies her analogy: just as honorable persons reject being treated as ‘after,’ so too the rightful heir should not accept what is already ‘enjoyed’ by another.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-respect aligned with righteousness—refusal to normalize a violation of proper precedence.