Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 45

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अनुमन्यस्व मां देवि गमिष्यन्तमितो वनम्।शापिताऽसि मम प्राणैः कुरु स्वस्त्ययनानि मे।।2.21.45।।

Transliteration

anumanyasva māṃ devi gamiṣyantam ito vanam |

śāpitā ’si mama prāṇaiḥ kuru svastyayanāni me ||2.21.45||

Translation

Gewähre mir, o Göttin, o Mutter, die Erlaubnis, von hier in den Wald aufzubrechen. Bei meinem eigenen Leben beschwöre ich dich und binde dich daran: vollziehe für mich die Riten und Segnungen, die Wohlergehen und Heil sichern.

Word by Word

• अनुमन्यस्व: permit/approve
• अनुमन्यस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + मन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/object of permitting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• गमिष्यन्तम्: who is going to go
• गमिष्यन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: लृट्-भावी कृदन्त (future active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of माम्)

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (from here)

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म—destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शापिता: bound by an oath/sworn
• शापिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप् (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied ‘त्वम्’)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्राणैः: by (my) life-breaths
• प्राणैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/निमित्त (by my life)

• कुरु: do/perform
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वस्त्ययनानि: auspicious rites/benedictions
• स्वस्त्ययनानि: Karma (कर्म/object of kuru)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्त्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मे: for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th, dative), एकवचन

Context

I have decided, O mother! to go to the forest from here. Grant me the permission to do so. I swear on my life. Perform all the ceremonies for securing prosperity for me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kausalyā
• vana (forest)
• svastyayana (auspicious rites)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring one’s mother and seeking her consent and blessings before undertaking a difficult duty. Rāma integrates personal sacrifice with ritual and familial propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, about to depart for exile, asks Kausalyā to give permission and perform auspicious protective rites for his journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and responsibility: Rāma does not proceed harshly or independently, but seeks maternal sanction and blessings.