Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 4

कौशल्याविलापः

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

Devanagari script

अथ स्म नगरे रामश्चरन् भैक्षं गृहे वसेत्।कामकारो वरं दातुमपि दासं ममात्मजम्।।।।

Transliteration

atha sma nagare rāmaś caran bhaikṣaṃ gṛhe vaset |

kāmakāro varaṃ dātum api dāsaṃ mamātmajam ||

Translation

Mas mabuti pa sanang ibinigay ko ang aking anak, kahit bilang alipin sa kanyang kapritso; sa gayon, si Rāma sana’y nanatili sa lungsod, naninirahan sa tahanan at nabubuhay sa limos habang ginagampanan ang kanyang tungkulin.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/connector (अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय)

• sma: indeed/just (particle)
• sma: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (स्म-निपात), often marking past narration/emphasis

• nagare: in the city
• nagare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• caran: wandering
• caran: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'moving about'

• bhaikṣam: alms-food
• bhaikṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gṛhe: in a house
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• vaset: would live
• vaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; 'would live'

• kāma-kāraḥ: one acting at will
• kāma-kāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (understood: 'he who acts at will')
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): 'kāmasya kāraḥ' = acting according to desire/at will

• varam: better
• varam: Prayojana/Predicative (विशेष्य-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used predicatively 'better'

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• api: even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• dāsam: as a slave
• dāsam: Karma (कर्म) (object of dātum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ātmajam: son
• ātmajam: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to dāsam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Context

I cannot live without my only son who is adept in all scriptures and endowed with all virtues.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kaikeyi
• Ayodhya (city)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the human cost when dharma is violated by coercion: even humiliating compromise seems preferable to unjust banishment. It implicitly critiques decisions driven by desire rather than righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya imagines alternative outcomes—anything that would keep Rama within reach—after learning he must leave for the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s dutifulness is assumed: even in hardship (begging), he would still ‘do what must be done’ (duty), reflecting steadfast adherence to dharma.