Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 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 ||
Ô Lakṣmaṇa aux signes de bon augure, la douleur de ma mère est immense et sans égale, car elle n’a pas compris le véritable dessein de la vérité et de la maîtrise de soi.
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.
FAQs
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.