Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 37

कौशल्यारामसंवादः · Kausalya

Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

अपीदानीं स कालस्स्याद्वनात्प्रत्यागतं पुनः ।

यत्त्वां पुत्रक पश्येयं जटावल्कलधारिणम् ॥३७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.24.37

Transliteration

apīdānīṃ sa kālaḥ syād vanāt pratyāgataṃ punaḥ |

yat tvāṃ putraka paśyeyaṃ jaṭāvalkala-dhāriṇam ||37||

Translation

Gdyby tylko ten czas był już dziś - gdy powrócisz znowu z lasu, drogie dziecko - abym mogła cię zobaczyć w splecionych włosach i odzieniu z kory.

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Word by Word

• api: even; perhaps
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/अपि-निपात)

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• syāt: might be; could it be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada

• vanāt: from the forest
• vanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Pañcamī (ablative/पञ्चमी), Eka-vacana

• pratyāgatam: returned
• pratyāgatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√ā-gam (धातु) (kta-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; agrees with tvām

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक)

• yat: so that; that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Conjunctional relative particle (यत्-निपात) introducing purpose/result clause

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• putraka: O dear son
• putraka: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Eka-vacana

• paśyeyam: I might see
• paśyeyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Uttama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada

• jaṭā-valkala-dhāriṇam: wearing matted hair and bark garments
• jaṭā-valkala-dhāriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + valkala (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: jaṭāṃ ca valkalaṃ ca dhārayati iti dhārin; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of tvām

Context

O my dear child, how pleasing would it be, if today were to be the day of your returnfrom the forest when I can see you wearing matted hair and robes of bark!

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The verse normalizes renunciation undertaken for truth and duty: even ascetic marks (jaṭā, valkala) become signs of dharmic endurance, awaited with reverence and longing.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā expresses a wish that the future day of Rāma’s return from exile were already here, imagining him in ascetic attire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s hopeful perseverance; Rāma’s implied tapas-like discipline in accepting forest life.