Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 8

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

यावदेव न जानाति कश्चिदर्थमिमं नरः।तावदेव मया सार्धमात्मस्थं कुरु शासनम्।।2.21.8।।

Transliteration

yāvad eva na jānāti kaścid artham imaṁ naraḥ | tāvad eva mayā sārdham ātmasthaṁ kuru śāsanam || 2.21.8 ||

Translation

قبل أن يعلم أحدٌ بهذا الأمر، تولَّ زمام السلطة تحت سيطرتك أنت، وبمعونتي.

Word by Word

• yāvat: until/as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/संबन्ध-अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (यावत्-तावत्) meaning 'as long as/until'

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• jānāti: knows/comes to know
• jānāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• kaścit: someone/anyone
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; indefinite pronoun (कश्चित्)

• artham: matter/meaning
• artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• imam: this
• imam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with artham

• naraḥ: man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tāvat: till then
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable with yāvat: 'till then/before that'

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• mayā: by me / with me
• mayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional adverb/particle meaning 'together with'

• ātmastham: under your control
• ātmastham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātma (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with śāsanam; compound: ātma + stha 'situated in oneself/under one's control'

• kuru: do/assume
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Singular

• śāsanam: rule/authority
• śāsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Context

With no cause nor concern for righteousness, will any one abandon his son who is nearly equal to god, upright, self-restrained and loved even by his enemies ?

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It raises a dharmic tension: emergency political action to prevent injustice versus obedience to established authority; Lakṣmaṇa urges decisive control to avert harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa proposes immediate action—taking control before public knowledge spreads—so that Rāma is not wronged by the unfolding palace decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s readiness to act and his protective solidarity with Rāma, even in politically risky circumstances.