Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.44 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 44

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

नित्यक्रोधतया तस्याः कथं नु खरवादितत्।कैकेय्या वदनं द्रष्टुं पुत्र शक्ष्यामि दुर्गता।।।।

Transliteration

nityakrodhatayā tasyāḥ kathaṃ nu kharavāditat | kaikeyyā vadanaṃ draṣṭuṃ putra śakṣyāmi durgatā ||

Translation

పుత్రా! నేను ఇంత దుర్గతిలో ఉన్నాను; ఎల్లప్పుడూ కోపంతో, కఠిన వాక్యాలతో మాట్లాడే ఆ కైకేయి ముఖాన్ని నేను ఎలా చూడగలను?

Word by Word

• नित्यक्रोधतया: due to (her) constant anger
• नित्यक्रोधतया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya-krodha-tā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: nitya + krodha; abstract noun with -tā; Feminine, Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular; expresses cause/means

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Feminine, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative adverb (प्रश्न)

• नु: indeed (question)
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative particle

• खरवादितत्: harshly spoken
• खरवादितत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara-vādita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: khara (harsh) + vādita (spoken, PPP from √vad); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used adverbially qualifying speech/face-context

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyi
• कैकेय्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), avyaya-kṛdanta

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

• शक्ष्यामि: will be able
• शक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, simple future), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• दुर्गता: in a miserable state
• दुर्गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from √gam with dur-; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate to speaker

Context

Fallen into an unfortunate state how can I look at Kaikeyi's face who is always harsh and in temper?

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the moral struggle of maintaining restraint and dignity amid injustice; Dharma here is the inner discipline to endure grief without abandoning righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā laments to Rāma after the exile decree, expressing her anguish and humiliation at having to face Kaikeyī, whom she views as cruel and perpetually angry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s honesty and emotional transparency are emphasized; she does not disguise her pain, even while remaining within the bounds of decorum.