Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.53 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 53

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

नरैरिवोल्काभिरपोह्यमानोमहागजोऽध्वानमनुप्रविष्टः।भूयः प्रजज्वाल विलापमेवं निशम्य रामः करुणं जनन्याः।।2.21.53।।

Transliteration

narair ivolkābhir apohyamāno

mahāgajo 'dhvānam anupraviṣṭaḥ |

bhūyaḥ prajajvāla vilāpam evaṃ

niśamya rāmaḥ karuṇaṃ jananyāḥ || 2.21.53 ||

Translation

মাতৃৰ এই কৰুণ বিলাপ শুনি ৰাম অধিককৈ অন্তৰত জ্বলি উঠিল—যেনেকৈ পথত সোমোৱা মহাগজক মানুহে জ্বলি থকা উল্কা ধৰি আঁতৰাই দিয়ে।

Word by Word

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करणे), बहुवचनम्; English: masculine, instrumental case, plural

• इव: like, as
• इव: सम्बन्ध/उपमा (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम्; English: indeclinable particle of comparison ('like/as')

• उल्काभिः: by firebrands/meteors (burning brands)
• उल्काभिः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करणे), बहुवचनम्; English: feminine, instrumental case, plural

• अपोह्यमानः: being driven back/prevented
• अपोह्यमानः: कर्म (Patient; describing the subject as being repelled/prevented)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-√ऊह्/ऊह (धातु) → अपोह्य (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) + मान (शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तः (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: present passive participle, masculine nominative singular

• महागजः: a mighty elephant
• महागजः: कर्ता (Agent; subject of the simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् गजः); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: karmadharaya compound, masculine nominative singular

• अध्वानम्: the path/way
• अध्वानम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: masculine, accusative case, singular

• अनुप्रविष्टः: having entered, gone along
• अनुप्रविष्टः: कर्ता (Agent; 'having entered' describing the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√विश् (धातु) → प्रविष्ट (क्त) + अनु- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: past participle, masculine nominative singular

• भूयः: again, still more
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय/तुलनार्थ-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम्; English: indeclinable adverb ('again, still more')

• प्रजज्वाल: blazed, burned intensely
• प्रजज्वाल: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; English: perfect tense, 3rd person singular, active

• विलापम्: lamentation, wailing
• विलापम्: कर्म (Object; what was heard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: masculine, accusative case, singular

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्; English: indeclinable adverb ('thus, in this way')

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-√शम् (धातु) → निशम्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (ल्यप्/क्त्वा); English: gerund/absolutive ('having heard')

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: कर्ता (Agent; subject of प्रजज्वाल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: masculine, nominative case, singular

• करुणम्: pitiful, sorrowful
• करुणम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: neuter, accusative case, singular; विशेषणम् (विलापम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• जनन्याः: of (his) mother
• जनन्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; English: feminine, genitive case, singular

Context

At the (inconsolable) lamentations of his mother, Rama was in flames (within) like a mighty elephant prevented from entering the highway by men with fire-works.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma often requires enduring inner anguish without abandoning the righteous path; the verse depicts that tension rather than denying it.

What is the narrative situation?

As Kausalya laments, the narrator describes Rama’s intensified inner pain through a vivid simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassion restrained by duty—Rama feels deeply yet remains committed to the dharmic decision.