Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 22

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Kausalya to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal household/inner apartments implied)Places named: vana (forest)

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञ यदि धर्मिष्ठो धर्मं चरितुमिच्छसि ।

शुश्रूष मामिहस्थस्त्वं चर धर्ममनुत्तमम् ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.22

Transliteration

dharmajña yadi dharmiṣṭho dharmaṃ caritum icchasi |

śuśrūṣa mām ihasthas tvaṃ cara dharmam anuttamam ||22||

Translation

धरम जानने वाले, अगर तुम सच में धरम फॉलो करना चाहते हो, तो यहीं रहो और मेरी सेवा करो। यह सबसे बड़ा धरम है जो कोई कर सकता है।

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Word by Word

• dharmajña: O knower of duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘knower of dharma’
• Role: Sambodhana
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• yadi: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle
• Role: Sambandha (condition)

• dharmiṣṭhaḥ: most righteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; superlative (iṣṭha) ‘most righteous’
• Role: Karta (predicate adjective of tvam)

• dharmam: dharma/righteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma

• caritum: to practice
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Tumunanta infinitive; ‘to practice’
• Role: Prayojana/Anukriyā

• icchasi: you wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā

• śuśrūṣa: serve
• Type: Verb
• Root: śuśrūṣ (धातु/denom from śuśrūṣā)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; ‘serve!’
• Role: Kriyā

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma

• ihasthaḥ: staying here
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iha + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; avyayībhāva ‘standing here’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (state of agent)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• tvam: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta

• cara: practice/follow
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā

• dharmam: dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma

• anuttamam: unsurpassed/best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with dharmam; ‘unsurpassed’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

Sandhi Notes

• caritumicchasi = caritum + icchasi
• māmihasthaḥ = mām + ihasthaḥ (mām + iha...)
• ihasthaḥ analyzed as avyayībhāva (iha + stha)

Context

You are righteous. You know your duty. If you wish to follow the path of righteousness, stay here, serve me and follow the best of dharma.

The teaching

Mātṛ-śuśrūṣā is presented as an 'anut्तama dharma'—a supreme, immediate righteousness within one’s station.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s obedience to father/royal command
• Rāma’s duty of service and protection toward mother
• Ideal of renunciation/forest-life vs gṛhastha filial obligations

Ethical theme

Filial duty (pitṛ/mātṛ-ṛṇa), role-dharma

For your practice

Frames seva to mother as sādhana—humility, gratitude, and restraint as lived dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Supplicatory, earnest, dharma-weighted

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Family Duty
• Mātṛ-dharma
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as direct service and duty within the household—especially the son’s obligation to honor and care for his mother.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā argues that true righteousness for Rāma would be to remain in Ayodhyā and attend to her, rather than accept exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of śuśrūṣā (devoted service) and steadfastness in familial obligations.