Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

न रोचते ममाप्येतदार्ये यद्राघवो वनम्।त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशं गतः।।2.21.2।।

Transliteration

na rocate mamāpy etad ārye yad rāghavo vanam |

tyaktvā rājyaśriyaṃ gacchet striyā vākyavaśaṃ gataḥ ||2.21.2||

Translation

أيتها النبيلة، حتى بالنسبة لي هذا غير مقبول - أن يذهب راغافا إلى الغابة، تاركًا رخاء المملكة، لمجرد أنه خضع لكلمات امرأة.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• रोचते: is pleasing
• रोचते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मम: to me/of me
• मम: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/experiencer—‘to me’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th, genitive), एकवचन

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/subject of रोचते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आर्ये: O noble lady
• आर्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• यत्: that (namely)
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् सम्बन्धबोधक (relative particle: that/which)

• राघवः: Rama
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• त्यक्त्वा: having renounced
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having abandoned’

• राज्य-श्रियम्: royal prosperity
• राज्य-श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म/object of tyaktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘राज्यस्य श्रीः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रिया: by a woman
• स्त्रिया: Sahakari (सहकारी/हेतुनिमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• वाक्य-वशम्: under the sway of words
• वाक्य-वशम्: Gati-Sambandha (गति/अवस्था—‘under control’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘वाक्यस्य वशः’ (under the control of words); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-सम्बन्ध (गतः इत्यस्य)

• गतः: having yielded/gone
• गतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of राघवः)

Context

Even if our father instigated by Kaikeyi becomes our enemy, he shall be imprisoned or even slain regardless of our relationship with him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

It highlights rājadharma and responsibility: the welfare of the kingdom should not be abandoned due to improper influence; decisions must align with rightful duty and public good.

What is the narrative situation?

In the aftermath of the exile decision, Lakṣmaṇa expresses strong disapproval that Rāma would relinquish kingship and go to the forest under the pressure of Kaikeyī’s demand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s fierce loyalty and protective zeal toward Rāma, combined with his concern for justice and the integrity of governance.