Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 19

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

आसां राम सपत्नीनां वस्तुं मध्ये न मे क्षमम्।नय मामपि काकुत्स्थ वनं वन्यां मृगीं यथा।।2.24.19।।यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितुरपेक्षया।

Transliteration

āsāṃ rāma sapatnīnāṃ vastuṃ madhye na me kṣamam | naya mām api kākutstha vanaṃ vanyāṃ mṛgīṃ yathā || 2.24.19 || yadi te gamane buddhiḥ kṛtā pitur apekṣayā |

Translation

罗摩啊，我无法忍受住在这些同夫之妻之间。迦拘特斯陀的后裔啊，若你因遵从父王之愿而决意入林，请也带我同去——入那森林——如同一只野鹿般随你而行。

Word by Word

• आसाम्: of these
• आसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Āmantrita (आमन्त्रित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• सपत्नीनाम्: of co-wives
• सपत्नीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वस्तुम्: to live, to dwell
• वस्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; infinitive purpose/complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; तुमुन् (infinitive), अव्ययभाव

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध

• मे: for me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• क्षमम्: possible, bearable
• क्षमम्: Bhāva (भाव; capability)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate adjective)

• नय: take (me), lead
• नय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (also/even)

• काकुत्स्थ: O Kakutstha
• काकुत्स्थ: Āmantrita (आमन्त्रित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वन्याम्: wild, forest-dwelling
• वन्याम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'मृगीम्')

• मृगीम्: a doe (female deer)
• मृगीम्: Upamāna (उपमान; in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यथा: like, as
• यथा: Upamā-vācaka (उपमावाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक (as/like)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Hetu/Śarta (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional 'if')

• ते: your / for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (genitive) एकवचन (your) / चतुर्थी (dative) possible; here: 'to you/your' with 'बुद्धिः'

• गमने: in going, in departure
• गमने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: decision, intention
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृता: made, formed
• कृता: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (agreeing with 'बुद्धिः')

• पितुः: of (your) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपेक्षया: out of regard/consideration
• अपेक्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apekṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ (instrumental of reason)

Context

O Rama, I am not able to live in the midst of these co-wives. O descendant of Kakutstha, if you have resolved to go to the forest as per the wishes of your father take me-a wild deer-along with you into the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (implied by pituḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharma as loyalty and shared fate within family bonds: Kauśalyā seeks to align her life with her son’s dharmic path, while also revealing the moral pain caused by palace rivalries.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā, distressed by Rāma’s impending exile and by her vulnerability among co-wives, asks to accompany him to the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s steadfast attachment and protective devotion (vātsalya) are emphasized, along with her desire for integrity in relationship rather than comfort in the palace.