Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 40
एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency
Setting: Ayodhyā palace (Daśaratha’s inner apartments implied)Places named: Ayodhyā
प्रविश्य वेश्मातिभृशं मुदाऽन्वितं समीक्ष्य तां चार्थविपत्तिमागताम् ।
न चैव रामोऽत्रजगामविक्रियां सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया ॥४०॥
praviśya veśmātibhṛśaṃ mudā ’nvitam samīkṣya tāṃ cārtha-vipattim āgatām |
na caiva rāmo ’tra jagāma vikriyāṃ suhṛj-janasya ātma-vipatti-śaṅkayā ||40||
राम महल के अंदर गए, वो खुश थे। लेकिन उन्होंने देखा कि कुछ गड़बड़ हो गई है। फिर भी उनका चेहरा नहीं बदला। उनको डर था कि दोस्त परेशान हो जाएंगे।
Sandhi Notes
- वेश्मातिभृशम् = वेश्म + अतिभृशम्
- मुदाऽन्वितम् = मुदा + अन्वितम्
- तां चार्थविपत्तिम् = ताम् + च + अर्थविपत्तिम्
- विपत्तिमागताम् = विपत्तिम् + आगताम्
- रामोऽत्र = रामः + अत्र
- जगामविक्रियाम् = जगाम + विक्रियाम्
- सुहृज्जनस्य = सुहृत् + जनस्य
- सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया = सुहृज्जनस्य + आत्मविपत्तिशङ्कया
Rama entered the palace which was full of great rejoicing. He did not disclose the obstruction that had come on the way of achieving his objective for fear of causing distress to his friends.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkōnaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
The teaching
A leader absorbs shock inwardly and protects the hearts of companions; steadiness itself becomes dharma in crisis.
Duties in tension
- Personal emotional truth vs duty to maintain composure for others’ welfare
- Right to react vs responsibility to prevent panic among allies
- Ethical theme
- Rāja-dharma / sadācāra
- How it resolves
- Self-restraint (ātma-nigraha) for loka-hita
For your practice
Practice of equanimity and compassionate restraint; useful for japa/meditation as a model of inner steadiness.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Self-mastery, foreboding, protective
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Maryada
- Itihasa
Sthitaprajña-like equanimity: outward steadiness despite inner knowledge of impending loss (cf. Gītā 2.55-57).
Ideal of inner steadiness amid dualities (dvandva-titikṣā), reminiscent of Kaṭha/Īśa themes of self-mastery.
- Rama and Friends/allies
- Benevolent leadership; protective friendship (protective restraint)
Bhagavad Gītā 2.14-15; Bhagavad Gītā 2.55-57
Dharma ideal of kingly composure (rāja-dharma) as in Mahābhārata Śānti/Anuśāsana discussions
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.18-2.20 (Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa: coronation reversal and Rama’s composure)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Madhyama-gati, restrained udātta emphasis on avikriyām
FAQs
Dharma is compassionate restraint: Rāma governs his expressions to protect others from anxiety and sorrow.
Amid celebration in the palace, Rāma recognizes a sudden reversal threatening his aims, but conceals it to avoid alarming loved ones.
Emotional mastery and consideration for others (saṃyama and dayā): he refuses to let inner turmoil harm his community.
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