Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Kausalyā’s Lamentation
Text 2.20.41
त्वयि सन्निहितेऽप्येवमहमासं निराकृता।
किं पुनः प्रोषिते तात ध्रुवं मरणमेव मे॥
tvayi sannihite ’py evam aham āsaṁ nirākṛtā
kiṁ punaḥ proṣite tāta dhruvaṁ maraṇam eva me
tvayi = in your; sannihite = presence; api = even; evam = so; aham = I; āsam nirākṛtā = have been neglected; kim punaḥ = then what to speak of; proṣite = when You have departed; tāta = my child; dhruvam = certainly; maraṇam eva me = I will die.
I have been so neglected even in Your presence. My child, then what to speak of when You have departed? I will certainly die.
Kausalyā illustrated her distress by speaking this verse. She intended to tell Him, “As You have already noticed, I have been so neglected even in Your strong presence.”