Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

अनुरक्तोऽस्मि भावेन भ्रातरं देवि तत्त्वतः। सत्येन धनुषा चैव दत्तेनेष्टेन ते शपे।।2.21.16।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.16

Transliteration

anurakto 'smi bhāvena bhrātaraṃ devi tattvataḥ |

satyena dhanuṣā caiva datteneiṣṭena te śape ||2.21.16||

Translation

Wahai Ibu, sesungguhnya dengan segenap rasa hatiku aku berbakti kepada saudaraku. Aku bersumpah kepadamu demi kebenaranku, demi busurku, dan demi pahala suci dari sedekah serta yajña (kurban) yang telah kupersembahkan.

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Word by Word

• anuraktaḥ: devoted/attached
• anuraktaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; anu+√rañj धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP used adjectivally; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate with asmi

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhāvena: with feeling/from the heart
• bhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of manner

• bhrātaram: (my) brother
• bhrātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• devi: O lady/mother
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• tattvataḥ: truly
• tattvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattvatas (अव्यय; from tattva)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (kriyāviśeṣaṇa) meaning ‘in truth/really’

• satyena: by truth
• satyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (or pum), Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental ‘by truth’

• dhanuṣā: by (my) bow
• dhanuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Nipāta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• dattena: by gifts/charity given
• dattena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dā धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP used substantively; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; ‘by what has been given (charity)’

• iṣṭena: by sacrifice performed
• iṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yaj धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP used substantively; Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; ‘by sacrifice performed’

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī vibhakti (4th) Ekavacana (Vedic/epic enclitic form); ‘to you’

• śape: I swear
• śape: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; ‘I swear’

Context

O mother! rest assured should Rama enter a blazing fire or a forest I must have already entered it.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• dhanuṣ (bow)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) and steadfast loyalty are treated as sacred commitments; vows grounded in truth and earned merit are presented as morally binding.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa reassures Kauśalyā of his unwavering allegiance to Rāma during the crisis of exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unshakable devotion to one’s elder brother and integrity expressed through solemn oath-taking.