Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 35

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

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya palace (dialogue setting)Ethical resolution before exile

Devanagari script

नाहं धर्ममपूर्वं ते प्रतिकूलं प्रवर्तये ।

पूर्वैरयमभिप्रेतो गतो मार्गोऽनुगम्यते ॥३५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.35

Transliteration

nāhaṃ dharmam apūrvaṃ te pratikūlaṃ pravartaye |

pūrvair ayam abhipreto gato mārgo ’nugamyate ||35||

Translation

હું તને ધર્મનો કોઈ નવો, પરંપરાવિરોધી માર્ગ સૂચવતો નથી; પૂર્વજોએ મંજૂર કરી ચાલેલો આ માર્ગ જ હું અનુસરો છું.

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Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• dharmam: dharma/practice
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• apūrvam: new/unprecedented
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं धर्मम् प्रति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• te: for you/to you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• pratikūlam: contrary (to tradition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratikūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं धर्मम् प्रति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• pravartaye: I introduce/advance
• Type: Verb
• Root: pravṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense 'set in motion/introduce'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• pūrvaiḥ: by the ancestors
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; 'by the ancients'
• Role: Karana (करण)

• ayam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• abhipretaḥ: approved
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi+prī (धातु)
• Form: अभिप्रेत (क्त) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'approved/accepted' (qualifying mārgaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• gataḥ: trodden
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: गत (क्त) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'gone/trodden' (qualifying mārgaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mārgaḥ: path
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• anugamyate: is being followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is followed'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• नाहम् = na + aham
• धर्ममपूर्वम् = dharmam + apūrvam
• पूर्वैरयम् = pūrvaiḥ + ayam
• मार्गोऽनुगम्यते = mārgaḥ + anugamyate (visarga sandhi)

Context

I am not advancing anything new, contrary to the existing practice. I am only following the trodden path of our ancestors.

The teaching

True dharma is not whimsical novelty; it is the tested path of the righteous—walked, approved, and therefore trustworthy.

Duties in tension

• Innovation/personal reasoning vs adherence to established dharma
• Self-interest vs ancestral maryādā

Ethical theme

Normative ethics grounded in tradition (maryādā/sadācāra)

How it resolves

Appeal to established path (pūrvācāra) as final justification

For your practice

Supports maryādā-oriented bhakti: following Rāma’s model of steady dharma; suitable for daily reflection on consistency and integrity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Settled, authoritative, traditional

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Tradition
• Ethics
• Social order

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a tested, inherited path (mārga) validated by the conduct of the righteous ancestors, rather than a novelty driven by emotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama argues that his decision is aligned with established royal-ethical norms, countering his mother’s grief-driven resistance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for maryādā (normative righteousness) and steadiness in principled conduct.