Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 39
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Ayodhya palace (Kausalya’s presence implied)
मम मातुर्महद्दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण ।
अभिप्रायमविज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च ॥३९॥
mama mātur mahad duḥkham atulaṃ śubha-lakṣaṇa |
abhiprāyam avijñāya satyasya ca śamasya ca ||39||
लक्ष्मण, मेरी माँ का दुखा बहुत बड़ा है। कोई उसके बराबर नहीं है। उसने समझ नहीं पाया कि सच्चाई और कंट्रोल क्या होता है।
Sandhi Notes
- मातुर्महद् = mātuḥ + mahat
- महद्दुःखम् = mahat + duḥkham
- अभिप्रायमविज्ञाय = abhiprāyam + avijñāya
O Lakshamana of auspicious qualities, since my mother is not aware of the significance of truth and self-restraint, she is overcome with grief, great and incomparable.
The teaching
Grief often arises from missing dharma’s inner purpose; truth and restraint are meant to steady the mind amid loss.
Duties in tension
- Emotional duty to relieve mother’s suffering
- Duty to uphold satya (truth/pledge)
- Duty of śama (self-restraint) in accepting hardship
- Ethical theme
- Dharma-viveka (discernment in duty)
- How it resolves
- Ethical clarification through discernment of intent (abhiprāya)
For your practice
Supports contemplation on satya and śama as daily vows; transforms sorrow into reflective steadiness.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Aching, tender, reflective
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Śama (self-restraint)
- Ethics
- Compassion
Distinguishing outer act from inner intent: dharma is not mere rule-following but alignment with satya and inner restraint—akin to later discussions of viveka (discernment).
The pairing of satya with inner discipline echoes Upaniṣadic moral pedagogy where truth is sustained by self-control (śama/dama) as prerequisites for higher good.
- Rama and Kausalya
- Son interprets mother’s grief; compassionate understanding (compassionate)
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Elder brother explains mother’s state to younger brother (instructive)
- Kausalya and Satya
- Misapprehension of truthfulness’ intent (conflicted)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.20–2.21 (Kausalya’s lament and Rama’s consolations); Valmiki Ramayana 2.23 (Rama’s continued ethical clarification)
Mahābhārata Śānti Parva: discussions on satya and śama as foundations of dharma
Ayodhya-kāṇḍa: recurring motif that elders’ sorrow arises from not seeing dharma’s deeper intent
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Grieving
Komala-gambhīra (lower, softened tone; lingering on duḥkha)
FAQs
Rama links dharma to satya (truthfulness) and śama (self-restraint), suggesting that understanding these virtues transforms emotional suffering into principled acceptance.
Rama explains to Lakshmana why Kausalya is overwhelmed—her grief arises from not grasping the deeper ethical purpose behind truth and restraint in this crisis.
Rama’s moral clarity and compassion: he interprets grief through an ethical lens while remaining gentle toward his mother.
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