Valmiki Ramayana 2.103.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 23

पिण्डदानदर्शनम्

The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

तां परिष्वज्य दुःखार्तां माता दुहितरं यथा।वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.103.23।।

Transliteration

tāṃ pariṣvajya duḥkhārtāṃ mātā duhitaraṃ yathā | vanavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt || 2.103.23 ||

Translation

వనవాసంతో కృశించి, దీనంగా, శోకార్తగా ఉన్న సీతను తల్లి తన కుమార్తెను ఆలింగనం చేసుకున్నట్లుగా కౌసల్య ఆలింగనం చేసి మాటలు పలికింది।

Word by Word

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

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+स्वज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having embraced'

• दुःखार्ताम्: distressed with grief
• दुःखार्ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier of ताम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख-आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन आर्ता)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दुहितरम्: daughter
• दुहितरम्: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोगे (as 'daughter')

• यथा: as if / like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (as/like)

• वनवासकृशाम्: emaciated by forest-dwelling
• वनवासकृशाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier of ताम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन-वास + कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वनवासेन कृशा)

• दीनाम्: wretched / poor
• दीनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (ताम्)

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to माता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Like a mother to her daughter, Kausalya embraced the wretched Sita, who was afflicted with sorrow, and emaciated due to her stay in the forest, and said to her:

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Sītā
• vana (forest)
• vanavāsa (exile)

FAQs

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

Compassion aligned with dharma: Kausalyā responds to suffering not with blame but with protective, maternal care, honoring Sītā’s dignity amid hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

After the exile years, Sītā is seen in a visibly weakened state; Kausalyā embraces her and begins speaking with deep concern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s karuṇā (tender compassion) and maryādā (noble restraint) in treating Sītā as her own daughter.