Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.44: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 44

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Spoken by Kausalya to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā palace (women’s quarters/court)Places named: Ayodhyā (implied)

Devanagari script

नित्यक्रोधतया तस्याः कथं नु खरवादितत् ।

कैकेय्या वदनं द्रष्टुं पुत्र शक्ष्यामि दुर्गता ॥४४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.44

Transliteration

nityakrodhatayā tasyāḥ kathaṃ nu kharavāditat |

kaikeyyā vadanaṃ draṣṭuṃ putra śakṣyāmi durgatā ||44||

Translation

Nieszczęsna jak jestem, synu mój, jak będę mogła patrzeć na twarz Kaikeyī, tej, która jest zawsze zagniewana i ostrych słów?

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Word by Word

• नित्यक्रोधतया: due to (her) constant anger
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya-krodha-tā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: nitya + krodha; abstract noun with -tā; Feminine, Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular; expresses cause/means
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तस्याः: of her
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Feminine, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative adverb (प्रश्न)
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• नु: indeed (question)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative particle
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• खरवादितत्: harshly spoken
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara-vādita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: khara (harsh) + vādita (spoken, PPP from √vad); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used adverbially qualifying speech/face-context
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• वदनम्: face
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), avyaya-kṛdanta
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• पुत्र: O son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• शक्ष्यामि: will be able
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, simple future), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• दुर्गता: in a miserable state
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √gam with dur-; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate to speaker
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• manuscript kharavāditat treated as khara-vādita(t) neuter
• vocative putra separated

Context

Fallen into an unfortunate state how can I look at Kaikeyi's face who is always harsh and in temper?

The teaching

Anger and harsh speech create fear and fracture dharma in families; restraint of vāk and krodha is essential for righteous governance and household peace.

Duties in tension

• Maintaining dignity and household harmony vs. confronting the agent of injustice
• Truthful expression of grief vs. prudence under an angry rival’s power

Ethical theme

Speech ethics and household dharma

For your practice

Practical sādhanā: cultivate kṣamā (forgiveness) and vāg-saṃyama; observe how krodha in oneself/others shapes fear and suffering.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Intimidated, wretched, dreading

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Family duty
• Suffering
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the moral struggle of maintaining restraint and dignity amid injustice; Dharma here is the inner discipline to endure grief without abandoning righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā laments to Rāma after the exile decree, expressing her anguish and humiliation at having to face Kaikeyī, whom she views as cruel and perpetually angry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s honesty and emotional transparency are emphasized; she does not disguise her pain, even while remaining within the bounds of decorum.