Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 37

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

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Setting: Ayodhya palace (Kausalya’s quarters/inner apartments context)

Devanagari script

तामेवमुक्त्वा जननीं लक्ष्मणं पुनरब्रवीत् ।

वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठश्श्रेष्ठस्सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥३७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.37

Transliteration

tām evam uktvā jananīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ punar abravīt |

vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarva-dhanuṣmatām ||37||

Translation

આ રીતે માતાને કહીને, વાણીવિદોમાં શ્રેષ્ઠ અને સર્વ ધનુર્ધરોમાં અગ્રગણ્ય એવા રામે ફરીથી લક્ષ્મણને સંબોધ્યા.

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Word by Word

• tām: her
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'her' (jananīm)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• evam: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• uktvā: having spoken
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having said'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• jananīm: mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• punaḥ: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (again)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• vākyam: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'speech/words' (object of abravīt)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vākyavidām: of speech-knowers
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya-vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (vākyam veda iti) 'of the knowers of speech'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं (implied subject: Rāma)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ (emphatic repetition)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• sarvadhanuṣmatām: of all archers
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-dhanuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarveṣām dhanuṣmatām) 'among/of all archers'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तामेवम् = tām + evam
• पुनरब्रवीत् = punaḥ + abravīt
• श्रेष्ठश्श्रेष्ठस् = śreṣṭhaḥ + śreṣṭhaḥ (visarga sandhi)
• सर्वधनुष्मताम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

One who is the best among the knowers of speech and best of all archers, Rama spoke to his mother in this manner and then said to Lakshmana:

The teaching

Leadership in crisis requires both gentle speech to elders and clear direction to companions.

Ethical theme

Nīti (conduct/leadership)

For your practice

Model for sāttvika speech: speak to soothe, then act decisively; useful for japa-supporting discipline of vāk-saṃyama.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Composed, authoritative, tender

Themes

• Itihasa
• Narrative transition
• Dharma
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya (mother)
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharmic leadership as inseparable from disciplined speech and capability: Rama’s moral stance is paired with eloquence and martial excellence.

What is the narrative situation?

A narrative pivot: after addressing Kausalya, the focus shifts to Rama’s next instruction/conversation with Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence in speech (vāg-vaibhava) and mastery in arms—competence supporting righteousness.