Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.30: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 30

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Setting: Ayodhya (inner apartments; devatāgāra/shrine-room)Places named: devatāgāra

Devanagari script

तत्र तां प्रवणामेव मातरं क्षौमवासिनीम् ।

वाग्यतां देवतागारे ददर्शाऽऽयाचतीं श्रियम् ॥३०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.30

Transliteration

tatra tāṃ pravaṇām eva mātaraṃ kṣaumavāsinīm |

vāgyatāṃ devatāgāre dadarśā ’yācatīṃ śriyam ||30||

Translation

तत्र स क्षौमवसनां प्रवणामेव मातरम्। देवतागारे वाग्यतां श्रियम् आयाचतीं ददर्श॥

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Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)

• ताम्: that (her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• प्रवणाम्: bowed down, devoted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम्/मातरम्-विशेषण (bent down, devoted)
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (emphasis)

• मातरम्: mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• क्षौमवासिनीम्: wearing fine cloth
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षौम + वासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘क्षौमं वसाना’ = wearing linen/silk garments
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वाग्यताम्: silent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वाचा यता’ = restrained in speech, silent
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• देवतागारे: in the shrine
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + आगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the shrine/room of worship’
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ददर्श: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• आयाचतीम्: praying for
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√याच् (धातु) → आयाचत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम्-विशेषण ‘praying/begging’
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)

• श्रियम्: prosperity, royal fortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object of praying)

Sandhi Notes

• ददर्शाऽऽयाचतीम् = ददर्श + आयाचतीम् (ā + ā)
• देवतागारे = देवता + आगारे (compound)
• वाग्यताम् = वाक् + यताम् (sandhi g)

Context

There he beheld his mother in silk apparel engrossed in silent prayer (to the gods) for his royal fortune in the room meant for the worship of the gods.

The teaching

Auspicious public events are grounded in private discipline: devotion, humility, and prayerful intention.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (right conduct)

Devotion and practice

Models gṛhastha-bhakti: silent prayer, prostration, and intention-setting before major life transitions.

Deity praised

Household deities / Janārdana implied via Śrī-seeking devotion

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Hushed, devotional, auspicious

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Bhakti
• Auspicious rituals

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• śrī (royal fortune/prosperity)

FAQs

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

Dharma as sacred preparation: before worldly elevation, devotion and prayer seek alignment with divine order and truth (satya) through disciplined worship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma arrives at the inner quarters and finds Kauśalyā silently praying in the shrine.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s piety and self-restraint (silence, devotion), showing inner discipline at a decisive moment.