Valmiki Ramayana 2.24.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 31

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा।कौशल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.31।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.24.31

Transliteration

evam uktā tu rāmeṇa bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā |

auśalyā putraśokārtā rāmaṃ vacanam abravīt || 2.24.31 ||

Translation

एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा। कौशल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

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Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• uktā: having been spoken to
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) (kta-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle/क्त), Strīliṅga (feminine/स्त्री), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); agrees with kauśalyā

• tu: but; and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunction (निपात)

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (instrumental/तृतीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• bāṣpa-paryākula-īkṣaṇā: whose eyes were clouded with tears
• bāṣpa-paryākula-īkṣaṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + paryākula (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (determinative/तत्पुरुष): bāṣpeṇa paryākulam īkṣaṇam yasyāḥ; Strīliṅga (feminine/स्त्री), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of kauśalyā

• kauśalyā: Kausalya
• kauśalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine/स्त्री), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• putra-śoka-ārtā: distressed by grief for her son
• putra-śoka-ārtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative/तत्पुरुष): putrasya śokena ārtā; Strīliṅga (feminine/स्त्री), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of kauśalyā

• rāmam: to Rama
• rāmam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुं), Dvitīyā (accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• vacanam: words; speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter/नपुंसक), Dvitīyā (accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Eka-vacana (singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

To these words of Rama, Kausalya, distressed with grief for her son, replied with her eyes filled with tears:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma’s emotional weight: righteousness is pursued amid sorrow, and the text validates grief without negating duty.

What is the narrative situation?

A narrative transition: after Rāma’s counsel, the scene turns to Kauśalyā’s tearful reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s deep love and sincerity—her response arises from truthfully felt grief.