Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 18

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Devanagari script

सोऽभिषेकनिवृत्त्यर्थैप्रवासार्थैश्च दुर्वचैः।उग्रैर्वाक्यैरहं तस्या नान्यद्दैवात्समर्थये।।।।

Transliteration

so ’bhiṣeka-nivṛtty-arthaiḥ pravāsa-arthaiś ca durvacaiḥ | ugrair vākyair ahaṃ tasyā nānyad daivāt samarthaye ||

Translation

Was ihre harten und wilden Worte betrifft —die meine Weihe verhindern und mich ins Exil treiben sollten— so kann ich sie durch nichts anderes erklären als durch das Schicksal.

Word by Word

• सः: I (that person)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वाक्ये ‘अहम्’ इत्यर्थे निर्देशः)

• अभिषेकनिवृत्त्यर्थैः: by (words) aimed at stopping the consecration
• अभिषेकनिवृत्त्यर्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अभिषेकस्य निवृत्तिः तस्य अर्थः)

• प्रवासार्थैः: by (words) aimed at exile
• प्रवासार्थैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवास-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रवासस्य अर्थः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• दुर्वचैः: harsh
• दुर्वचैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्वच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to ‘vākyaiḥ’) ‘harsh’

• उग्रैः: cruel
• उग्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to ‘vākyaiḥ’) ‘fierce’

• वाक्यैः: with words
• वाक्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्या: of her
• तस्या: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of her’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘anything else’

• दैवात्: than destiny/from fate
• दैवात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from/than fate’

• समर्थये: I attribute/consider (as cause)
• समर्थये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्थय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

I do not find any reason other than destiny for the cruel and brutal words spoken by Kaikeyi with the objective of preventing my coronation and exiling me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kaikeyī
• Consecration (abhiṣeka)
• Exile (pravāsa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is restraint in judgment: Rāma refuses to escalate hostility and treats the event as destiny-driven, thereby preventing adharma in response.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma interprets Kaikeyī’s severe speech—aimed at blocking his coronation and enforcing exile—as something he will not explain through malice alone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s equanimity and non-reactivity—he absorbs insult without collapsing into hatred.