Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

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

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम्।उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः।।2.21.1।।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.1

Transliteration

tathā tu vilapantīṃ tāṃ kausalyāṃ rāmamātaram |

uvāca lakṣmaṇo dīnas tatkālasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ || 2.21.1 ||

Translation

ラーマの母カウサリヤーがこのように嘆き悲しんでいるとき、自身も悲嘆に暮れるラクシュマナは、その場にふさわしい言葉を彼女にかけました。

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Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• विलपन्तीम्: lamenting
• विलपन्तीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ताम्/कौसल्याम्)

• ताम्: that (her)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/object of speaking to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कौसल्याम्: Kausalya
• कौसल्याम्: Karma (कर्म/object addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• राममातरम्: Rama's mother
• राममातरम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘रामस्य माता’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कौसल्यायाः विशेषण

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दीनः: distressed
• दीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of लक्ष्मणः)

• तत्-काल-सदृशम्: befitting the occasion
• तत्-काल-सदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘तस्मिन् काले सदृशम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of वचः)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/object—what was said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Context

While Rama's mother, Kausalya was lamenting, miserable Lakshmana said to her these words appropriate to the occasion:

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Kausalya
• Rama

FAQs

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

It indicates dharma as timely counsel and supportive speech: in crisis, one must respond with words fitted to the moment, aiming to steady the afflicted and uphold righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya is lamenting; Lakshmana, sharing the pain, begins addressing her with context-appropriate words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s loyalty and responsiveness—he does not remain passive but engages, attempting to meet the crisis with decisive speech.