Shloka 2.21.39
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः — Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā
मम मातुर्महद्दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण।अभिप्रायमविज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च।।2.21.39।।
mama mātur mahad duḥkham atulaṃ śubha-lakṣaṇa |
abhiprāyam avijñāya satyasya ca śamasya ca || 2.21.39 ||
O auspicious Lakṣmaṇa, my mother’s grief is vast and incomparable, for she has not understood the true intent of truthfulness and self-restraint.
O Lakshamana of auspicious qualities, since my mother is not aware of the significance of truth and self-restraint, she is overcome with grief, great and incomparable.
Rama links dharma to satya (truthfulness) and śama (self-restraint), suggesting that understanding these virtues transforms emotional suffering into principled acceptance.
Rama explains to Lakshmana why Kausalya is overwhelmed—her grief arises from not grasping the deeper ethical purpose behind truth and restraint in this crisis.
Rama’s moral clarity and compassion: he interprets grief through an ethical lens while remaining gentle toward his mother.