Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 14

कौशल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and the Vision of Rama’s Return

Devanagari script

प्रविशन्तौ कदाऽयोध्यां द्रक्ष्यामि शुभकुण्डलौ।उदग्रायुधनिस्त्रिंशौ सश्रृङ्गाविव पर्वतौ।।।।

Transliteration

praviśantau kadāyodhyāṃ drakṣyāmi śubhakuṇḍalau | udagrāyudhanistriṃśau saśṛṅgāv iva parvatau ||

Translation

Kailan ko makikitang pumapasok sa Ayodhyā ang dalawa—may mapalad na hikaw, tangan ang mga sandata at tabak na nakataas—na parang dalawang bundok na may matatayog na tuktok?

Word by Word

• प्रविशन्तौ: (the two) entering
• प्रविशन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• कदा: when?
• कदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative)

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya (into)
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of entering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• द्रक्ष्यामि: shall I see
• द्रक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शुभ-कुण्डलौ: wearing auspicious earrings
• शुभ-कुण्डलौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुभे कुण्डले यस्य/ययोः)

• उदग्र-आयुध-निस्त्रिंशौ: with weapons and swords held high
• उदग्र-आयुध-निस्त्रिंशौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udagra (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + nistriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः (उदग्रे आयुधे निस्त्रिंशौ/निस्त्रिंशयुक्तौ; determinative)

• स-शृङ्गौ: having peaks
• स-शृङ्गौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (शृङ्गैः सह = having peaks)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• पर्वतौ: two mountains
• पर्वतौ: Upamana (उपमान/Standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

When shall I see both of them wearing auspicious ear-rings and holding poweful weapons (bows) and swords high, like two mountain peaks?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• weapons (āyudha)
• sword (nistriṃśa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to protection: righteous princes are envisioned as steady, elevated guardians—symbolized by mountain imagery—who uphold order and safety.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā longs for a visual confirmation of her sons’ return, imagining their martial splendor as they enter the capital.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and readiness to defend (kṣātra-vīrya), presented as dignified strength rather than aggression.