Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 24

सुमित्रोपदेशः

Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

मा शोको देवि दुःखं वा न रामे दृश्यतेऽशिवम्।क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्रं त्वं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम्।।।।

Transliteration

mā śoko devi duḥkhaṃ vā na rāme dṛśyate 'śivam | kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi putraṃ tvaṃ sasītaṃ saha-lakṣmaṇam ||

Translation

ਦੇਵੀ, ਨਾ ਸ਼ੋਕ ਕਰ, ਨਾ ਦੁੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਡੁੱਬ; ਰਾਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਅਸ਼ੁਭ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਸਦਾ। ਤੂੰ ਛੇਤੀ ਹੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਸਮੇਤ ਅਤੇ ਲਕਸ਼ਮਣ ਸਮੇਤ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਵੇਖੇਂਗੀ।

Word by Word

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Prohibition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle (निषेधार्थक निपात)

• śokaḥ: grief
• śokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• devi: O lady/queen
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• duḥkham: distress
• duḥkham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; coordinated with śokaḥ

• vā: or
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa-dyotaka (समुच्चय/विकल्पद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle/conjunction (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• rāme: in Rama
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• dṛśyate: is seen / is found
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; passive sense 'is seen'

• aśivam: inauspiciousness
• aśivam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; subject of dṛśyate

• kṣipram: soon
• kṣipram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• drakṣyasi: you will see
• drakṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Future), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• putram: (your) son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun

• sasītam: together with Sita
• sasītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: sa + sītā (with Sita); Accusative, Singular, Masculine; qualifying putram

• sahalakṣmaṇam: together with Lakshmana
• sahalakṣmaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saha-lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: saha + lakṣmaṇa (with Lakshmana); Accusative, Singular, Masculine; qualifying putram

Context

Desist from grief or tear for Rama, O Devi! nothing inauspicious will happen to him you will soon see your son along with Sita and Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma generates auspicious outcomes: the righteous may face trials, but their path is not ‘aśiva’—it is safeguarded by truth and right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Final reassurance to Kausalya: Rama’s exile will not bring disaster, and reunion with Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana is promised.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Confidence rooted in righteousness—faith that Rama’s dharmic nature prevents inauspicious downfall.