Valmiki Ramayana 2.43.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 3

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

विवास्य रामं सुभगा लब्धकामा समाहिता।त्रासयिष्यति मां भूयो दुष्टाहिरिव वेश्मनि।।।।

Transliteration

vivāsya rāmaṃ subhagā labdhakāmā samāhitā |

trāsayiṣyati māṃ bhūyo duṣṭāhir iva veśmani ||

Translation

ராமனை வனவாசத்திற்கு அனுப்பி, ஆசை நிறைவேறி திருப்தியடைந்த அந்தத் தீயவள், வீட்டுக்குள் இருக்கும் கொடிய பாம்புபோல் என்னை மீண்டும் மீண்டும் அச்சுறுத்துவாள்.

Word by Word

• vivāsya: having banished
• vivāsya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-vas (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from causative sense of √vas with prefix vi-; 'having caused to dwell away/banished'

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• subhagā: the fortunate woman (Kaikeyi)
• subhagā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: subhagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• labdha-kāmā: having fulfilled desires
• labdha-kāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of subhagā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (कृदन्त, √labh धातु) + kāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय: 'labdhāḥ kāmāḥ yasyāḥ sā' in sense 'one whose desires are obtained/satisfied'

• samāhitā: composed; resolute
• samāhitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of subhagā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'composed/settled, resolute'

• trāsayiṣyati: will torment
• trāsayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tras (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); 'will cause to fear/torment'

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• duṣṭa-ahiḥ: a vicious serpent
• duṣṭa-ahiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (कृदन्त, √duṣ धातु) + ahi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय: 'duṣṭaḥ ahiḥ'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)

• veśmani: in the house
• veśmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

O best of men! I have been forcibly separated from my affectionate son by Kaikeyi just like a cow from its calf by a lion.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Dharma includes non-harm and truthful conduct within the family; when power is used to satisfy selfish desire, it creates ongoing fear and instability for the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya anticipates continued suffering in the palace after Rama’s exile, fearing Kaikeyi’s dominance and hostility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalya’s maternal fidelity and moral clarity—she recognizes wrongdoing and its consequences, even within the royal household.