Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 39

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम् · Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Setting: अयोध्या (अन्तःपुर/कौशल्यागृह)Immediate pre-departure farewell

Devanagari script

उवाचातिप्रहृष्टेव सा दुःखवशवर्तिनी ।

वाङ्ग्मात्रेण न भावेन वाचाऽसंसज्जमानया ॥३९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.25.39

Transliteration

uvācātiprahṛṣṭeva sā duḥkhavaśavartinī |

vāṅmātreṇa na bhāvena vācā ’saṃsajjamānayā ||39||

Translation

Choć opanowana przez smutek, przemawiała jakby wielce uradowana, tylko słowami, nie sercem, jej głos drżący i chwiejny.

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Word by Word

• ānamya: having bent down
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having bowed/bent (him)'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• mūrdhni: on the head/forehead
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7), Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• āghrāya: having smelled
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √ghrā (घ्रा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having smelled'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √svaj (स्वज् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having embraced'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• yaśasvinī: the illustrious lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• avadat: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• putra: O son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• siddhārthaḥ: having achieved your aim
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; used predicatively/addressing: 'one whose purpose is accomplished'
• Role: Sambodhana-visheshana (सम्बोधन-विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• gaccha: go
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāma: O Rāma
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8), Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• yathā-sukham: in comfort/at ease
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: adverbial compound meaning 'according to comfort'; indeclinable usage
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

Sandhi Notes

• mūrdhni cāghrāya → mūrdhni ca āghrāya
• avadatputra → avadat putra
• yathāsukham → yathā-sukham

Context

Even though Kausalya was filled with distress, she appeared as if she was very much happy. She uttered mere words in a confusing tone without applying her mind.

The teaching

Dharma sometimes asks for strength in expression: one may uphold another’s duty by offering courage even while grieving.

Duties in tension

• शोकानुवर्तन (natural grief)
• धैर्य/अनुशासन (composure to support the dharmic mission of the son)

Ethical theme

धैर्य (fortitude) and अनुकम्पा (compassion)

How it resolves

Emotional restraint; supportive speech despite inner sorrow

For your practice

Practice of vāṅ-niyama (disciplined speech) and compassionate encouragement; useful for cultivating steadiness in farewells and transitions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Suppressed, trembling, brave-faced

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Emotional restraint
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma as restraint: maintaining outward steadiness and blessing even when inner sorrow is overwhelming.

What is the narrative situation?

After performing rites, Kausalyā attempts to speak encouragingly to Rāma, but her grief shows through her unsteady voice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude—trying to uphold supportive speech despite personal anguish.