Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.62: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 62
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
यशो ह्यहं केवलराज्यकारणा न्न पृष्ठतः कर्तुमलं महोदयम् ।
अदीर्घकाले न तु देवि जीविते वृणेऽवरामद्य महीमधर्मतः ॥६२॥
yaśo hy ahaṁ kevalarājyakāraṇān na pṛṣṭhataḥ kartum alaṁ mahodayam |
adīrghakāle na tu devi jīvite vṛṇe 'varām adya mahīm adharmataḥ ||62||
केवल राज्य के कारण मैं इस महान यश को पीछे नहीं डाल सकता। हे देवि, अल्पकालिक इस जीवन में मैं आज अधर्म से इस तुच्छ पृथ्वी को पाना नहीं चुनता।
I will not forsake this great glory (of fulfilling my father's promise) for the sake of the kingdom. In this transient existence O mother, I do not wish to acquire this insignificant earth unrighteously.
FAQs
Political power is not worth unrighteous acquisition; dharma and truthful honor outweigh temporary sovereignty.
Rāma reassures his mother that he will not pursue the throne through questionable means; he prefers exile with honor to rule with adharma.
Rāma’s integrity and non-attachment to power—choosing moral glory over material rule.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.