Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 19

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः।उवाच रामं कौशल्या रुदन्ती शोकलालसा।।2.21.19।।

Transliteration

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ |

uvāca rāmaṃ kauśalyā rudantī śokalālasā ||2.21.19||

Translation

महात्मा लक्ष्मण के ये वचन सुनकर, शोक से व्याकुल और रोती हुई कौशल्या ने राम से कहा।

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• tu: then/but
• tu: Nipāta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Virodha/anuvṛtti-nipāta (तु) ‘but/then’

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta absolutive; ‘having heard’

• lakṣmaṇasya: of Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; agrees with lakṣmaṇasya; karmadhāraya ‘great-souled’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• rāmam: to Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• kauśalyā: Kausalya
• kauśalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rudantī: weeping
• rudantī: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (state of agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (शतृ) present active participle; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with kauśalyā

• śokalālasā: grief-stricken
• śokalālasā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka + lālasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘eager/longing for sorrow’ i.e., overwhelmed by grief; agrees with kauśalyā

Context

O venerable one, I do not like that Rama should go to the forest yielding to thewords of a woman and renouncing the welfare of the kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kauśalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It foregrounds compassionate speech in crisis: dharma in family tragedy often begins with listening, restraint, and responding thoughtfully rather than escalating conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

After Lakṣmaṇa’s intense declarations, the scene turns to Kauśalyā, who—grief-stricken—now addresses Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s maternal anguish and sincerity, and the narrative’s emphasis on emotional truth within dharmic decision-making.