Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 24

कौशल्यारामसंवादः

Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma

Devanagari script

दारुणश्चाप्ययं शोको यथैनं न विनाशयेत्।राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततं हितं चर समाहिता।।2.24.24।।

Transliteration

dāruṇaś cāpy ayaṃ śoko yathainaṃ na vināśayet | rājño vṛddhasya satataṃ hitaṃ cara samāhitā || 2.24.24 ||

Translation

此悲痛确实惨烈；你当行事使它不致毁灭他。以安定之心，恒常为年迈的国王行其所利。

Word by Word

• दारुणः: terrible
• दारुणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शोकः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ-निपात (also/even)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शोकः: grief
• शोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन

• यथा: so that
• यथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिणाम/उद्देश्यवाचक (so that)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• विनाशयेत्: should ruin/destroy
• विनाशयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √नश् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'should destroy')

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वृद्धस्य: of the old (one)
• वृद्धस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying राज्ञः)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• हितम्: what is beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; 'हितं चर' इति कर्म

• चर: practice, do
• चर: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाहिता: composed, attentive (O you)
• समाहिता: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + √धा (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा; 'composed/collected'

Context

See that the old king does not succumb to this terrible grief. Serve him with a composed mind.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Daśaratha (aged king)

FAQs

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

It teaches dharma as steady service (sevā) in crisis: one must respond to suffering not with collapse, but with composed, beneficial action for those dependent and vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma anticipates Daśaratha’s intense grief and urges Kauśalyā to act steadily to protect the king’s health.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure (samādhāna/samāhita-citta) and practical compassion—virtues required to uphold dharma amid tragedy.