Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 23
अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः
Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana
Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Ayodhya (didactic counsel context)
ऋषयोऽप्युग्रतपसो दैवेनाभिप्रपीडिताः ।
उत्सृज्य नियमांस्तीव्रान्भ्रश्यन्ते काममन्युभिः ॥२३॥
ṛṣayo 'py ugra-tapaso daivenābhiprapīḍitāḥ |
utsṛjya niyamāṁs tīvrān bhraśyante kāma-manyubhiḥ ||23||
जिन रिशियों ने बहुत तपस्या की है, जब दैव उनपे पड़ता है तो वो भी अपने व्रत तोड़ देते हैं। वो भी काम और गुस्से में फंस जाते हैं।
Sandhi Notes
- ऋषयोऽपि = ऋषयः + अपि
- दैवेनाभिप्रपीडिताः = दैवेन + अभिप्रपीडिताः
- नियमांस्तीव्रान् = नियमान् + तीव्रान्
Even rishis with severe austerities are tormented by destiny and are swerved from their observances because of anger and passion.
The teaching
If even great ascetics can slip when passions rise, one must guard the mind; do not trust anger as a guide.
Duties in tension
- Maintaining niyama/tapas and self-control vs being swept by kāma and krodha under pressure
- Responding to adversity with disciplined dharma vs impulsive retaliation
- Ethical theme
- Inner discipline and vigilance
- How it resolves
- Cautionary exemplum
For your practice
Practical warning for sādhakas: strengthen pratyāhāra and kƺamā; use as reflection before japa/vrata to avoid lapses.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Cautionary, somber, disillusioning
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Daiva (destiny)
- Krodha (anger)
- Kama (desire)
- Self-mastery
Even advanced practitioners can be shaken when latent impressions (vāsanās) are triggered; steadiness requires deeper realization beyond mere austerity.
Kaha Upaniƺad warning: the senses are powerful; without discrimination and steady mind, one falls from the path.
- Rishis and Daiva
- Ascetics tested/overpowered by fate (tragic, vulnerability)
- Rishis and Kama
- Inner enemy disrupting tapas (overpowered)
- Rishis and Krodha
- Inner enemy disrupting niyamas (overpowered)
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Warning example to restrain passions (cautionary, instruction)
Bhagavad Gita 3.37-3.43 (kāma as enemy; control of senses); Mahabharata: stories of sages falling due to desire/anger (e.g., Viśvāmitra-Menakā; Durvāsā episodes as thematic parallels); Valmiki Ramayana: Viśvāmitra narrative background (Bāla-kāƷƽa) as an internal thematic mirror
Vedic/SmƵti ascetic discipline (niyama, tapas)
Rama's attempt to cool Lakshmana's krodha by citing even rishis' vulnerability
Anuƺƽup
Warning solemn
Mandra (low register)
FAQs
Dharma requires vigilance over inner enemies (kāma, krodha); even the disciplined can fall, so one must not justify anger as ‘righteous’ merely because one feels wronged.
Rama warns Lakshmana that rage can derail even the best, using sages as an example to cool Lakshmana’s indignation.
Self-mastery: Rama underscores the danger of uncontrolled passion and the need to protect one’s vows and duties.
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