Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 18

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

धर्मनित्या यथाकालमग्न्यगारपरा भव।देवि देवस्य पादौ च देववत्परिपालय।।।।

Transliteration

dharmanityā yathākālam agnyagāra-parā bhava |

devi devasya pādau ca devavat paripālaya ||

Translation

夫人啊，当恒常安住于法；于应时之刻勤修火室之仪；并如事奉天神一般，恭敬护持你主君之足。

Word by Word

• dharma-nityā: ever devoted to dharma
• dharma-nityā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण (be always in dharma)

• yathā-kālam: at the proper time
• yathā-kālam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास, अव्यय; अर्थः = यथासमयम् (at the proper time)

• agni-agāra-parā: devoted to the sacred-fire chamber (ritual duties)
• agni-agāra-parā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + agāra (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण: ‘agnyagāre parā’ = devoted to the fire-chamber/rituals

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• devi: O lady/queen
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• devasya: of (your) lord
• devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (here: ‘lord’ = king)

• pādau: (his) two feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• devavat: like a god
• devavat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: devavat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (adverb of comparison)

• paripālaya: serve/protect
• paripālaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-pāl (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

'O mother, conduct yourself with other mothers without pride and egoism. Ensure that venerable Kaikeyi remains welldisposed towards the king.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Daśaratha
• Agnyagāra (sacrificial fire chamber)

FAQs

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

Steadfast household dharma: timely ritual responsibility and faithful service to one’s rightful lord are presented as stabilizing moral duties during upheaval.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Kauśalyā to continue religious observances and to care for Daśaratha with reverence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s expected virtues of constancy, ritual discipline, and loyal care are emphasized through Rāma’s counsel.