Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 23

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Devanagari script

ऋषयोऽप्युग्रतपसो दैवेनाभिप्रपीडिताः।उत्सृज्य नियमांस्तीव्रान्भ्रश्यन्ते काममन्युभिः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.22.23

Transliteration

ṛṣayo 'py ugra-tapaso daivenābhiprapīḍitāḥ |

utsṛjya niyamāṁs tīvrān bhraśyante kāma-manyubhiḥ ||

Translation

Selbst die Rishis von furchtbarer Askese, wenn sie vom Geschick bedrängt werden, geben ihre strengen Gelübde auf und geraten ins Straucheln, überwältigt von Begierde und Zorn.

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Word by Word

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also/even)

• उग्रतपसः: of fierce austerity
• उग्रतपसः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ऋषयः)

• दैवेन: by fate
• दैवेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अभिप्रपीडिताः: tormented
• अभिप्रपीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्र-पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (tormented)

• उत्सृज्य: having cast aside
• उत्सृज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having abandoned)

• नियमान्: observances
• नियमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तीव्रान्: severe
• तीव्रान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नियमान्)

• भ्रश्यन्ते: fall away
• भ्रश्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रंश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• काममन्युभिः: by desire and anger
• काममन्युभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Context

Even rishis with severe austerities are tormented by destiny and are swerved from their observances because of anger and passion.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Rishis (ṛṣayaḥ)
• Daiva (destiny)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires vigilance over inner enemies (kāma, krodha); even the disciplined can fall, so one must not justify anger as ‘righteous’ merely because one feels wronged.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama warns Lakshmana that rage can derail even the best, using sages as an example to cool Lakshmana’s indignation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery: Rama underscores the danger of uncontrolled passion and the need to protect one’s vows and duties.