Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Spoken by Kausalya to RamaSetting: AyodhyaPlaces named: forest (implied by exile)Departure into exile (vanavāsa) begins

Devanagari script

न क्रुध्यत्यभिशप्तोऽपि क्रोधनीयानि वर्जयन् ।

क्रुद्धान्प्रसादयन्सर्वान् स इतोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.4

Transliteration

na krudhyaty abhiśapto ’pi krodhanīyāni varjayan |

kruddhān prasādayan sarvān sa ito ’dya pravatsyati ||4||

Translation

Derjenige, der Taten meidet, die Zorn erregen, der die Zornigen besänftigt, und der selbst bei einem Fluch nicht erzürnt—er, Rāma, zieht heute von hier in die Verbannung.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय
• Role: Nishedha (निषेध)

• क्रुध्यति: gets angry
• Type: Verb
• Root: krudh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• अभिशप्तः: even if cursed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-śap (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agrees with (रामः) understood
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कार (even/also)
• Role: Avadharana (अवधारण)

• क्रोधनीयानि: anger-provoking acts
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodhanīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; "things that should/can cause anger" (नीयत्-प्रत्यय adjective used substantively)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वर्जयन्: avoiding
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agrees with (रामः)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• क्रुद्धान्: the angry (people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; adjective used substantively "the angry (people)"
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्रसादयन्: pacifying
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sad (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; causative sense in usage: "making pleased/pacifying"
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; qualifies क्रुद्धान्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• सः: he (that Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• इतः: from here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itas (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from here)
• Role: Apadana (अपादान)

• अद्य: today
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (today)
• Role: Kala (काल)

• प्रवत्स्यति: will depart (into exile)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vats (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• क्रुध्यत्यभिशप्तोऽपि = क्रुध्यति + अभिशप्तः + अपि
• क्रुद्धान्प्रसादयन् = क्रुद्धान् + प्रसादयन्
• इतोऽद्य = इतः + अद्य

Context

Rama who used to avoid deeds that caused anger, pacified those who were angry with him, and never lost his cool even when cursed, that Rama is going on exile today.

The teaching

True strength is not anger but the power to avoid provocation, pacify the enraged, and remain unshaken even when cursed.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya impulse to retaliate vs higher dharma of forbearance
• Personal grievance at injustice vs obedience and social peace

Ethical theme

Kṣamā/ahiṃsā and rājadhrama (ideal leadership)

How it resolves

Virtue-based restraint (kṣamā and prasādana)

Devotion and practice

Daily practice cue: when provoked, pause, avoid krodha-kāraka acts, and respond with prasādana; japa of ‘Rāma’ to stabilize mind.

Deity praised

Rāma (as dharma-mūrti)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Self-controlled, noble, steadfast

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Kṣamā (forbearance)
• Self-control
• Exile

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is identified with mastery over anger: the righteous person avoids provoking conflict, pacifies others, and remains composed even under insult or curse.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of the exile crisis, Rāma’s exemplary temperament is recalled, heightening the tragedy that such a person is being sent away.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā and śama—patience and inner restraint—Rāma’s ability to remain calm and reconcile the angry.