Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 43

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तदेतां विसृजानार्यां क्षत्रधर्माश्रितां मतिम्।धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम्।।2.21.43।।

Transliteration

tad etāṃ visṛjānāryāṃ kṣatradharmāśritāṃ matim |

dharmam āśraya mā taikṣṇyaṃ madbuddhir anugamyatām ||2.21.43||

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.

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

• kṣatradharmāśritām: based on kshatriya-duty
• kṣatradharmāśritām: Karma (कर्म)
• 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

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

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.