Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 29
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya (palace)Places named: vana (forest)Departure intention: Ayodhya → forest exile
नास्ति शक्तिः पितुर्वाक्यं समतिक्रमितुं मम ।
प्रसादये त्वां शिरसा गन्तुमिच्छाम्यहं वनम् ॥२९॥
nāsti śaktiḥ pitur vākyaṃ samatikramituṃ mama |
prasādaye tvāṃ śirasā gantum icchāmy ahaṃ vanam ||29||
Ich habe keine Macht, das Wort meines Vaters zu übertreten. Mit geneigtem Haupt flehe ich dich an; ich wünsche in den Wald zu gehen.
Sandhi Notes
- नास्ति = न + अस्ति
- पितुर्वाक्यम् = पितुः + वाक्यम्
- गन्तुमिच्छाम्यहम् = गन्तुम् + इच्छामि + अहम्
I do not have the power to transgress the orders of my father. Bowing my head I beseech you, allow me to go to the forest.
The teaching
Dharma is upheld not by force but by humility—seeking consent, bowing, and accepting hardship for truth.
Duties in tension
- Obedience to father’s command vs mother’s desire to keep son near
- Kṣatriya royal destiny vs ascetic hardship of forest life
- Ethical theme
- Pitṛ-ājñā-pālana (filial obedience) and satya-dharma
- How it resolves
- Vow of obedience with respectful seeking of maternal blessing
For your practice
Cultivates śaraṇāgati-like humility toward rightful duty; supports practice of obedience to dharma over preference.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Resolute, humble, duty-bound
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Obedience
- Pitr̥-vākya-paripālana (keeping father's word)
- Maryādā
Ego-surrender (ahaṃkāra-tyāga) shown by ‘śirasā’ aligns with karma-yoga: acting without self-will against dharma.
The motif of śraddhā and obedience to rightful injunction resembles the discipline of following vidhi/upadeśa; forest as locus of tapas recalls āraṇyaka spirit.
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son’s obedience to father-king’s command (reverent)
- Rama and Kausalya
- Son entreats mother for consent/blessing (supplicatory)
- Rama and Forest
- Renunciant-bound journey; acceptance of hardship (resolute)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa: Rāma’s repeated vow to uphold father’s word across Ayodhyākāṇḍa; Rāmacaritamānasa (Ayodhyākāṇḍa): Rāma’s pitṛ-bhakti and exile acceptance
Dharmaśāstra ideals of obedience to parents/elders (mātṛ-devo bhava / pitṛ-devo bhava ethos, later formulation)
Rāma’s earlier acceptance of exile terms; Kausalyā’s plea and Rāma’s reassurance
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding-solemn (vow-like)
Firm madhyama; emphatic cadence on ‘nāsti śaktiḥ’ and ‘gantum icchāmi’
FAQs
Rāma upholds dharma as fidelity to the father’s word (satya and pitr̥-ājñā), even when it causes personal and familial suffering.
Rāma responds to Kausalyā’s pleas by stating he cannot violate Daśaratha’s command and must proceed to the forest.
Integrity and obedience—Rāma’s unwavering commitment to truth and duty.
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