Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 9

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

मया पार्श्वे सधनुषा तव गुप्तस्य राघव।क स्समर्थोऽधिकं कर्तुं कृतान्तस्येव तिष्ठतः।।2.21.9।।

Transliteration

mayā pārśve sadhanuṣā tava guptasya rāghava | kaḥ samartho 'dhikaṁ kartuṁ kṛtāntasyeva tiṣṭhataḥ || 2.21.9 ||

Translation

હે રાઘવ, તું ગુપ્ત રહે ત્યારે ધનુષ્ય હાથમાં લઈને હું તારા બાજુએ ઊભો હોઉં—તો કૃતાંત સમા તું સ્થિર હોય ત્યારે તારા વિરુદ્ધ અતિશય કરવાનું કોણ સમર્થ થશે?

Word by Word

• mayā: by me/with me
• mayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• pārśve: at the side
• pārśve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• sa-dhanuṣā: with (your) bow
• sa-dhanuṣā: Saha (सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; 'with bow' (सह-समास/सत्पुरुष)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• guptasya: protected
• guptasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gup (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular; qualifying tava: 'of you being protected/guarded'

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• samarthaḥ: capable
• samarthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• adhikam: more/excess
• adhikam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially 'excessively/more'

• kartum: to do/to attempt
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• kṛtāntasya: of Yama (Death)
• kṛtāntasya: Upamāna-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• tiṣṭhataḥ: (of you) standing
• tiṣṭhataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) in Genitive singular masculine (standing); agreeing with tava/guptasya: 'of you standing'

Context

While the righteous king is living, more importantly treading the righteous path, howcan mother Kausalya, like an ordinary widow, accompany me leaving this city?

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Kṛtānta (Yama)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes defending the righteous against wrongdoing; Lakṣmaṇa frames protection of Rāma as a just, force-backed deterrence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa reassures Rāma of his armed support and implies that no one can oppress Rāma if they stand together.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering devotion and martial readiness (kṣātra-tejas) in service of what he perceives as justice.