Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.43: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 43

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhyā (palace)Pre-departure (tension before exile)

Devanagari script

तदेतां विसृजानार्यां क्षत्रधर्माश्रितां मतिम् ।

धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम् ॥४३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.43

Transliteration

tad etāṃ visṛjānāryāṃ kṣatradharmāśritāṃ matim |

dharmam āśraya mā taikṣṇyaṃ madbuddhir anugamyatām ||43||

Translation

Darum gib diesen unedlen Impuls auf, auch wenn er sich als Kṣatriya-Pflicht ausgibt. Nimm Zuflucht im Dharma; wende dich nicht zu harter Gewalt. Folge meinem Urteil.

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Word by Word

• tat: therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तदर्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः (therefore/for that reason)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• etām: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'this' (qualifying matim)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• visṛja: abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• anāryām: ignoble
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं matim प्रति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• kṣatradharmāśritām: based on kshatriya-duty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣatra-dharma-āśrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (kṣatrasya dharmaḥ) + āśrita (kta of ā+śri) 'having resorted to kshatriya-duty' (qualifying matim)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• matim: intention/thought
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• dharmam: dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āśraya: take refuge in/adopt
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+śri (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• mā: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with imperative)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• taikṣṇyam: harshness/violence
• Type: Noun
• Root: taikṣṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'harshness/violence'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• madbuddhiḥ: my counsel
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad-buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mama buddhiḥ) 'my counsel'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• anugamyatām: let (it) be followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+gam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be followed'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• क्षत्रधर्माश्रिताम् = kṣatra-dharma-āśritām
• धर्ममाश्रय = dharmam + āśraya
• मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम् = madbuddhiḥ + anugamyatām (visarga sandhi)

Context

Therefore, leave this ignoble thought, resort to the duty of a kshatriya, take the righteous path. Do not adopt violence. Follow my decision.

The teaching

Not every impulse labeled ‘kṣatriya-dharma’ is noble; dharma requires discernment and restraint from harsh violence.

Duties in tension

• Perceived kṣatriya retaliation/violent redress vs higher dharma of restraint and truth-keeping
• Protecting family honor through force vs protecting dharma through self-control

Ethical theme

Krodha-nigraha / dharma-viveka

How it resolves

Dharma-viveka with elder’s guidance

Devotion and practice

Practical upadeśa for anger-management and ahiṃsā; supports daily self-restraint (dama) and right action.

Mantra

धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Restraining, stern, righteous

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Non-violence/restraint
• Ethics of power
• Self-control

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

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

True dharma is not mere aggression in the name of duty; it is disciplined righteousness. Rāma distinguishes moral duty from violent impulse and insists on restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa is inclined toward forceful action; Rāma instructs him to abandon violent thoughts and adhere to dharma by accepting the exile decision.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral leadership and calm discernment—guiding martial energy into ethical self-governance.