Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Setting: Ayodhyā (royal residence/inner apartments where Kausalyā laments)
तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम् ।
उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः ॥१॥
tathā tu vilapantīṃ tāṃ kausalyāṃ rāmamātaram |
uvāca lakṣmaṇo dīnas tatkālasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ ||1||
इस प्रकार विलाप करती हुई राममाता कौसल्या से, स्वयं भी दीन हुए लक्ष्मण ने उस समय के अनुरूप वचन कहा।
Sandhi Notes
- राममातरम् = राम + मातरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
- दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं = दीनः + तत्कालसदृशम्
While Rama's mother, Kausalya was lamenting, miserable Lakshmana said to her these words appropriate to the occasion:
The teaching
In crisis, speech must be both timely and compassionate—addressing grief without abandoning righteousness.
Duties in tension
- Filial duty and obedience to royal command (Rāma’s exile)
- Familial protection and emotional duty to mother (Kausalyā’s grief)
- Ethical theme
- Vāg-dharma (ethics of speech)
- How it resolves
- Counsel/appeal within dharma framework
For your practice
Models karuṇā and seva: responding to another’s grief with present, appropriate words; useful for daily practice of mindful speech.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Lamenting, tender, urgent
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Family duty
- Crisis counsel
- Ethics
Speech aligned to the moment reflects viveka—responding to changing guṇas of mind (śoka/rajas) with stabilizing counsel.
The ethical weight of vāṇī recalls the Upaniṣadic emphasis on satya and measured speech (vāg as tapas).
- Kausalya and Rama
- Mother-son; maternal grief for son’s impending exile (sorrowful)
- Lakshmana and Kausalya
- Younger brother addressing elder mother-figure (brother’s mother) with deference (compassionate)
- Lakshmana and Rama
- Devoted younger brother; protective loyalty (devoted)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.21 (Lakṣmaṇa’s impassioned response to the exile decision)
Mahābhārata: laments of mothers in dynastic crises (e.g., Kuntī/Gāndhārī episodes)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Kausalyā’s grief scenes; Lakṣmaṇa’s protective speeches to Rāma
Anuṣṭup
Grieving
Komala-gāndhāra
FAQs
It indicates dharma as timely counsel and supportive speech: in crisis, one must respond with words fitted to the moment, aiming to steady the afflicted and uphold righteous action.
Kausalya is lamenting; Lakshmana, sharing the pain, begins addressing her with context-appropriate words.
Lakshmana’s loyalty and responsiveness—he does not remain passive but engages, attempting to meet the crisis with decisive speech.
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