Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 5
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Spoken by RamaSetting: Ayodhya (implied)
न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः ।
स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत् ॥५॥
na taṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ loke parokṣam api yo naraḥ |
svamitraḥ api nirastaḥ api yo 'sya doṣam udāharet ||5||
मैं पूरी दुनिया में किसी को नहीं देखता। ना दुश्मन को, ना किसी और को। कोई भी राम में कोई बुराई नहीं बोलता। ना सामने, ना पीछे। किसी को कोई प्रॉब्लम नहीं दिखती उसमें।
Sandhi Notes
- paśyāmyahaṃ = paśyāmi + aham
- parokṣamapi = parokṣam + api
- svamitro'pi = sva-mitraḥ + api
- nirasto'pi = nirastaḥ + api
- yo'sya = yaḥ + asya
- doṣamudāharet = doṣam + udāharet
I do not find anybody in this world, even an adversary or one defeated, who finds fault with him even in his absence.
The teaching
A ruler’s true virtue is such that even opponents cannot credibly malign him; private speech becomes a measure of public righteousness.
- Ethical theme
- Rāja-dharma/nīti (integrity and reputation)
Devotion and practice
Encourages guarding speech and cultivating blameless conduct so that even private criticism finds no foothold.
- Deity praised
- Daśaratha as righteous king (not a deity)
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Defensive, admiring, assured
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Maryada
- Ethics
- Itihasa
- Filial duty
- Royal virtue
Virtue as inner purity manifesting outwardly; the truly righteous remains unassailable even in absence—echoing the idea that dharma is self-luminous.
Ethic of truth and right speech; the moral weight of speech aligns with Upaniṣadic valuation of satya.
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son’s defense of father-king’s blamelessness (protective-reverent)
- Enemy and Dasharatha
- Even enemies cannot fault him (respectful-reluctant)
Rāmāyaṇa: multiple attestations of Daśaratha’s virtues and kīrti in Bāla/Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa contexts; Mahābhārata: ideals of rāja-dharma where even enemies praise a righteous king (general parallel)
Dharmaśāstric and nīti traditions on a king’s spotless reputation
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Rāma’s repeated defense of Daśaratha’s intent and virtue despite the exile outcome
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative-assertive
Clear, slightly elevated tone on ‘na taṃ paśyāmi’; firm closure on ‘doṣam udāharet’
FAQs
The verse upholds the ideal of blameless conduct: true dharma is so transparent that even opponents cannot credibly accuse one of wrongdoing, even in private.
In the tense moment surrounding the forest-exile decision, Rama speaks to steady his mother and family, emphasizing the unimpeachable character and public regard connected to the situation.
Integrity (anavadya-ācāra)—a reputation grounded in consistent righteousness, respected even by adversaries.
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