Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.47 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 47

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अपश्यन्ती तव मुखं परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम्।कृपणा वर्तयिष्यामि कथं कृपणजीविकाम्।।।।

Transliteration

apaśyantī tava mukhaṃ paripūrṇaśaśiprabham | kṛpaṇā vartayiṣyāmi kathaṃ kṛpaṇajīvikām ||

Translation

เมื่อมิได้เห็นพระพักตร์ของเจ้า อันสว่างดุจจันทร์เพ็ญ ข้าพเจ้าผู้รันทดจะดำรงชีวิตอันทุกข์เข็ญนี้ต่อไปได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• अपश्यन्ती: not seeing/without beholding
• अपश्यन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-paśyantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ) from √paśy (to see) with negation a-; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with speaker

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive, Singular

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

• परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम्: bright like the full moon
• परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paripūrṇa-śaśi-prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (descriptive): paripūrṇa (full) + śaśi (moon) + prabha (lustre); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies mukhaṃ

• कृपणा: wretched
• कृपणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate to speaker

• वर्तयिष्यामि: will live/continue
• वर्तयिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, simple future), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular; causative-like sense 'to carry on/live'

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

• कृपणजीविकाम्: a pitiable life
• कृपणजीविकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpaṇa-jīvikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kṛpaṇa + jīvikā (livelihood/way of living); Feminine, Accusative, Singular; object of vartayiṣyāmi

Context

Without beholding your face that is as bright as the full Moon, how can this wretched woman live this pitiable life?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the cost of righteous duty (Rāma’s obedience) on loved ones; Dharma often demands sacrifice that must be borne with truthfulness and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

Facing imminent separation from her son, Kausalyā expresses the emotional devastation of not seeing Rāma’s face during his forest exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Deep affection (vātsalya) and sincerity—her love is presented as pure, not political.