Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.53: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 53
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
नरैरिवोल्काभिरपोह्यमानो महागजोऽध्वानमनुप्रविष्टः ।
भूयः प्रजज्वाल विलापमेवं निशम्य रामः करुणं जनन्याः ॥५३॥
narair ivolkābhir apohyamāno mahāgajo 'dhvānam anupraviṣṭaḥ |
bhūyaḥ prajajvāla vilāpam evaṃ niśamya rāmaḥ karuṇaṃ jananyāḥ ||53||
Als Rama das erbarmungswürdige Klagen seiner Mutter so vernahm, entbrannte er innerlich umso mehr—wie ein mächtiger Elefant, den Männer mit lodernden Fackeln vom Weg zurückdrängen.
At the (inconsolable) lamentations of his mother, Rama was in flames (within) like a mighty elephant prevented from entering the highway by men with fire-works.
FAQs
Dharma often requires enduring inner anguish without abandoning the righteous path; the verse depicts that tension rather than denying it.
As Kausalya laments, the narrator describes Rama’s intensified inner pain through a vivid simile.
Compassion restrained by duty—Rama feels deeply yet remains committed to the dharmic decision.
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