Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 5

कौसल्याविलापः

Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Devanagari script

भुक्त्वाऽशनं विशालाक्षी सूपदं शान्वितं शुभम्।वन्यं नैवारमाहारं कथं सीतोपभोक्ष्यते।।2.61.5।।

Transliteration

bhuktvāśanaṃ viśālākṣī sūpadaṃ śānvitaṃ śubham | vanyaṃ naivāram āhāraṃ kathaṃ sītopabhokṣyate || 2.61.5 ||

Translation

Pagkakain ng marikit na malalaking-mata ng masasarap na pagkain na may sabaw at mabubuting pampalasa, paano makakakain si Sītā ng pagkaing-gubat na mula sa ligaw na bigas?

Word by Word

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘having eaten’

• aśanam: food
• aśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viśāla-akṣī: large-eyed (Sita)
• viśāla-akṣī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (she whose eyes are large), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सीता-विशेषण

• sūpa-dam: with soup/condiments
• sūpa-dam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; aśanam-विशेषण (food with soup/condiments)

• śānvitam: seasoned
• śānvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; aśanam-विशेषण (well-seasoned)

• śubham: good, fine
• śubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; aśanam-विशेषण

• vanyam: forest (wild)
• vanyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; āhāram-विशेषण

• naivāram: wild rice
• naivāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naivāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; āhāram-विशेषण (made of wild rice)

• āhāram: food
• āhāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• katham: how
• katham: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• upabhokṣyate: will eat/enjoy
• upabhokṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) with upa-
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

How can the large-eyed Sita having enjoyed delicious food mixed with condiments and soup now partake the food prepared with wild grains?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts royal comfort with ascetic hardship to question whether the imposed exile is ethically warranted; dharma is presented as accountable for real human consequences, not just formal obedience.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā imagines Sītā’s dietary deprivation in the forest, emphasizing the severity of the exile’s material austerities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s willingness to share Rāma’s fate is implied, pointing to devotion and endurance.