Valmiki Ramayana 2.44.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 1

सुमित्रोपदेशः · Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

विलपन्ती तथा तां तु कौसल्यां प्रमदोत्तमाम् ।

इदं धर्मे स्थिता धर्म्यं सुमित्रा वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.44.1

Transliteration

vilapantī tathā tāṃ tu kausalyāṃ pramadottamām |

idaṃ dharme sthitā dharmyaṃ sumitrā vākyam abravīt ||1||

Translation

เมื่อพระนางเกาสัลยา ผู้ประเสริฐยิ่งในหมู่สตรี คร่ำครวญอยู่ฉันนั้น พระนางสุมิตรา ผู้ตั้งมั่นในธรรม จึงตรัสถ้อยคำอันชอบธรรมนี้แก่พระนาง

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Word by Word

• विलपन्ती: lamenting
• विलपन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√lap (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि (lamenting)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (thus/then)

• ताम्: to her/that (woman)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• कौसल्याम्: Kausalya
• कौसल्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रमद-उत्तमाम्: best among women
• प्रमद-उत्तमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रमदानाम् उत्तमा)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (of वाक्यम्)

• धर्मे: in dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थितā: abiding/standing
• स्थितā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सुमित्रा)

• धर्म्यम्: righteous
• धर्म्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of वाक्यम्)

• सुमित्रा: Sumitra
• सुमित्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

While Kausalya, the best of women was thus lamenting, virtuous Sumitra spoke to her these righteous words:

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Sumitrā
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a stabilizing force in crisis: the dharmic person offers guidance that aligns emotion with righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kausalyā’s lament, Sumitrā begins to console and instruct her, framing her advice as dharma-consistent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumitrā’s steadiness and discernment—she can counsel rightly even when others are overwhelmed.