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

Devanagari script

हरामि वीर्याद्दुःखं ते तम स्सूर्य इवोदितः।देवी पश्यतु मे वीर्यं राघवश्चैव पश्यतु।।2.21.18।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.18

Transliteration

harāmi vīryād duḥkhaṃ te tamas sūrya ivoditaḥ |

devī paśyatu me vīryaṃ rāghavaś caiva paśyatu ||2.21.18||

Translation

ઉદિત સૂર્ય જેમ અંધકાર દૂર કરે તેમ, મારા પરાક્રમથી હું તમારું દુઃખ હરી લઈશ. હે દેવી માતા, તમે મારી શક્તિ જુઓ અને રાઘવ પણ તે જ જુએ.

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

Having heard the words of the magnanimous Lakshmana, Kausalya, depressed and weeping, said to Rama:

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.