Shloka 31

सुमित्रोपदेशः

Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

निशम्य तल्लक्ष्मणमातृवाक्यंरामस्य मातुर्नरदेवपत्न्या:।सद्यश्शरीरे विननाश शोकःशरद्गतो मेघ इवाल्पतोयः।।।।

Transliteration

niśamya tal lakṣmaṇa-mātṛ-vākyaṃ rāmasya mātur nara-deva-patnyāḥ | sadyaḥ śarīre vinanāśa śokaḥ śarad-gato megha ivālpa-toyaḥ ||

Translation

لکشمن کی ماں کے وہ کلمات سن کر، رام کی ماں—نر دیو کی رانی—کے جسم میں بسنے والا غم فوراً مٹ گیا، جیسے خزاں کا کم پانی والا بادل یکایک چھٹ جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying vākyaṃ

• lakṣmaṇamātṛvākyaṃ: the words of Lakshmana's mother
• lakṣmaṇamātṛvākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object of niśamya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa-mātṛ-vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: lakṣmaṇa + mātṛ + vākya (words of Lakshmana's mother); Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• mātuḥ: of (his) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• naradevapatnyāḥ: of the king's consort (queen)
• naradevapatnyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-deva-patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: nara + deva + patnī (wife of the king); Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• śarīre: in the body
• śarīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• vinanāśa: perished / was destroyed
• vinanāśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-naś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• śokaḥ: grief
• śokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• śaradgataḥ: having come in autumn
• śaradgataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śarad-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: śarad + gata (gone to autumn); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying meghaḥ

• meghaḥ: a cloud
• meghaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; upamāna

• iva: like
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle

• alpatoyaḥ: with little water
• alpatoyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa-toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: alpa + toya (having little water); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying meghaḥ

Context

On hearing the words of Lakshmana's mother the grief in the heart of the queen (Kausalya), mother of Rama, instantly disappeared like the autumnal cloud that holds but little rain.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē catuścatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sumitrā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kausalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma-oriented counsel can dispel despair: when suffering is reframed through truth and righteousness, the mind regains steadiness and the body recovers from grief.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sumitrā’s counsel, Kausalyā’s intense sorrow subsides immediately; the narrator closes the episode with a seasonal simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Receptivity to wise counsel—Kausalyā’s capacity to regain composure when reminded of dharma and satya.