Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.46: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 46
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya (implied)Places named: vana, purī, divam (heaven)Outbound to forest with promised return
तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात्पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम् ।
ययातिरिव राजर्षिःपुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम् ॥४६॥
tīrṇapratijñaś ca vanāt punar eṣyāmy ahaṃ purīm |
yayātir iva rājarṣiḥ purā hitvā punar divam ||46||
Jab main apna vaada poora kar lunga, toh jungle se wapas shehar aaunga. Jaise Yayati naam ka raja rishi pehle swarg se gira tha, phir wapas pahunch gaya tha.
Sandhi Notes
- तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च = तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः + च
- वनात्पुनर् = वनात् + पुनः
- एष्याम्यहं = एष्यामि + अहम्
- राजर्षिः = राज-ऋषिः
- पुनर्दिवम् = पुनः + दिवम्
Like rajarshi Yayati of yore who lost heaven and rejained it, I shall return from theforest to the city (of Ayodhya) after the vow is fulfilled.
The teaching
A vow completed restores order; endurance in hardship is validated by exemplars from ancient lore.
- Ethical theme
- Satya/pratijñā (truthfulness and keeping one’s word)
- How it resolves
- Affirmation of vow-fulfillment and promised return
For your practice
Strengthens saṅkalpa (vow-discipline) and patience; encourages recalling dharmic exemplars to sustain resolve.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Vow-bound, hopeful, composed
Themes
- Dharma
- Vow
- Hope
- Itihasa reference
- Perseverance
Fall and return as saṃsāric oscillation; steadfastness in dharma as inner ascent rather than external svarga.
Implicit contrast between transient svarga and enduring rightness; echoes the Upaniṣadic critique of svarga as impermanent compared to higher attainment.
- Rama and Kausalya
- Son reassuring mother of return after vow (assuring)
- Rama and Yayati
- Exemplary comparison (itihāsa-dṛṣṭānta) (didactic)
- Yayati and Heaven
- Fall and re-attainment of svarga as moral exemplar (aspirational)
- Rama and Ayodhya
- Rightful prince anticipating return to city (steadfast)
Mahābhārata, Ādiparvan/Śāntiparvan traditions on Yayāti’s fall from svarga and moral causality (Yayāti-upākhyāna); Purāṇic retellings of Yayāti’s svarga episode
Itihāsa exemplum usage: citing ancient royal sages to validate present dharma
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated assurances of return after completing exile term and vow
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative-solemn
Steady udātta emphasis on pratijñā and punar-eṣyāmi; slight lift on dṛṣṭānta name ‘Yayāti’
FAQs
Dharma is framed as a vow to be completed: hardship is temporary when endured for righteousness. The return is conditioned on faithful completion of duty.
To console Kausalyā, Rāma promises that after completing the exile-vow he will return, invoking Yayāti as an illustrative precedent.
Resolve and reassurance: Rāma combines steadfastness in duty with compassionate encouragement to his grieving mother.
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