Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 22

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Spoken by Kausalya to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā (implied, Kauśalyā’s quarters)

Devanagari script

तमुवाच दुराधर्षं राघवं सुतमात्मनः ।

कौशल्या पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदं प्रियहितं वचः ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.22

Transliteration

tam uvāca durādharṣaṃ rāghavaṃ sutam ātmanaḥ |

kauśalyā putravātsalyād idaṃ priyahitaṃ vacaḥ ||22||

Translation

แล้วพระนางเกาสัลยา ด้วยความรักใคร่ของมารดาอันลึกซึ้ง ได้ตรัสแก่พระโอรสของพระนางเอง คือพระราฆวะผู้ยากจะปราบ ด้วยถ้อยคำอันไพเราะและเป็นประโยชน์เกื้อกูล

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• दुराधर्षम्: invincible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुराधर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to राघवम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• राघवम्: Raghava (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सुतम्: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; राघवम् इति विशेष्यस्य अपि विशेषणवत्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आत्मनः: of herself/own
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• पुत्र-वात्सल्यात्: out of affection for her son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वात्सल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी; समासः (तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्रिय-हितम्: pleasant and beneficial
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to वचः); समासः (द्वन्द्व) ‘pleasant and beneficial’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

• वचः: words/speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• तमुवाच = तम् + उवाच
• पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदम् = पुत्रवात्सल्यात् + इदम्

Context

Out of love for her son, the invincible scion of the Raghu dynasty, Kausalya spoke with gentle and pleasant words:

The teaching

Affection becomes dharmic when it speaks what is both pleasing and truly beneficial (priya-hita).

Ethical theme

Family dharma

Devotion and practice

Model for speaking satya-hita-priya words; cultivating compassionate counsel in household life.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tender, protective, benedictory

Themes

• Dharma
• Parental counsel
• Maryādā
• Itihāsa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes benevolent speech: counsel should be both kind (priya) and truly beneficial (hita), especially from elders to the young.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā begins to address Rāma affectionately, preparing to offer blessings and guidance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s caring wisdom—love expressed through guidance aimed at her son’s welfare.