Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Lakṣmaṇa to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhyā (palace precincts)

Devanagari script

हरामि वीर्याद्दुःखं ते तम स्सूर्य इवोदितः ।

देवी पश्यतु मे वीर्यं राघवश्चैव पश्यतु ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.18

Transliteration

harāmi vīryād duḥkhaṃ te tamas sūrya ivoditaḥ |

devī paśyatu me vīryaṃ rāghavaś caiva paśyatu ||18||

Translation

Con mi valor eliminaré tu dolor, como el sol naciente disipa la oscuridad. Que tú, oh madre, seas testigo de mi fuerza, y que Raghava la presencie también.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• harāmi: I remove/take away
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• vīryāt: by (my) valor
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; ablative of cause/means ‘by/from (my) valor’
• Role: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)

• duḥkham: sorrow
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• te: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana (enclitic); ‘your’
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha

• tamaḥ: darkness
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (or Prathamā by context), Ekavacana; here as upamā-object with iva
• Role: Upamāna/Upameya sambandha (उपमा)

• sūryaḥ: sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• iva: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (उपमार्थक) particle ‘like/as’
• Role: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)

• uditaḥ: risen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदik; ud+√i/√ud-i धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with sūryaḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• devī: the queen/mother (Kausalya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• paśyatu: let (her) see
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative/benedictive sense), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā

• me: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana (enclitic)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha

• vīryam: valor
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma

• rāghavaḥ: Rama (descendant of Raghu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction
• Role: Sambandha

• eva: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle
• Role: Nipāta

• paśyatu: let (him) see
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā

Sandhi Notes

• vīryādduḥkham = vīryāt + duḥkham (t+d→dd)
• sūrya ivoditaḥ = sūryaḥ + iva + uditaḥ (ḥ+i→y)
• rāghavaścaiva = rāghavaḥ + ca + eva (ḥ+c→ś)

Context

Like the rising Sun dispelling darkness, I shall eliminate your sorrow. O mother! Let Rama see my valour. You, too.

The teaching

Courage allied with righteousness becomes ‘light’ that steadies the grieving mind.

Ethical theme

Consolation through righteous resolve

For your practice

Use of ‘light over darkness’ as contemplative support: cultivate tejas (steadfast energy) to dispel inner tamas.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Invigorating, sunlike, assuring

Themes

• Dharma
• Vīrya (valor)
• Ethics
• Maryada
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā (devī)
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• sun (sūrya)
• darkness (tamas)

FAQs

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

The verse frames protection of the afflicted (especially one’s elders) as a duty, though true dharma requires that strength be guided by restraint and righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa attempts to console Kauśalyā, asserting he will act powerfully to remove her grief and demonstrate his capability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and protective resolve—vīrya presented as a force meant to dispel suffering.