Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 2

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon

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Spoken by Viśvāmitra to King Daśaratha

Devanagari script

पूर्वमर्थं प्रतिश्रुत्य प्रतिज्ञां हातुमिच्छसि ।

राघवाणामयुक्तोऽयं कुलस्यास्य विपर्ययः ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.2

Transliteration

pūrvam arthaṃ pratiśrutya pratijñāṃ hātum icchasi |

rāghavāṇām ayukto 'yaṃ kulasyāsya viparyayaḥ ||2||

Translation

先にこの事を約したのに、今になってその誓いを捨てようとするのか。そのような背信はラाघヴァの名にふさわしくなく、この王家の血統にとって重大な転倒となろう。

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Word by Word

• pūrvam: formerly / earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)
• Role: Kala/Desha (काल/क्रम)

• artham: the matter / request
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object of pratiśrutya)

• pratiśrutya: having promised
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)

• pratijñām: the promise
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object of hātum)

• hātum: to abandon / to break
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose of icchasi)

• icchasi: you wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु; इच्छ्-आदेश)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)

• rāghavāṇām: of the Rāghavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)

• ayuktaḥ: improper / unfitting
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-yukta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to ayaṃ (viparyayaḥ)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/predicate qualifier)

• ayam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied 'asti')

• kulasya: of the dynasty
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)

• asya: of this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; refers to 'kula' or context
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of this)

• viparyayaḥ: reversal / breach / impropriety
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; subject/predicate-noun)

Sandhi Notes

• ayukto'yaṃ = ayuktaḥ + ayaṃ (अयुक्तोऽयं)
• kulasyāsya = kulasya + asya (कुलस्यास्य)

The teaching

A pledge once given must not be abandoned; for the Rāghavas, truthfulness is identity—breach of promise is a reversal of lineage dharma.

Duties in tension

• Keeping a promise (satya/pratijñā) vs perceived expediency or fear of consequences
• Personal preference vs kula-dharma and royal credibility

Ethical theme

Satya-dharma; rāja-dharma; kula-dharma

How it resolves

Normative admonition: uphold vow to preserve dharma and lineage honor

For your practice

Practical sādhanā of satya: using speech as a vow; strengthens integrity (saṅkalpa-śakti) and reduces inner fragmentation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Stern, accusatory, dharma-charged

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Kula-dharma
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāghava
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

Satya and pratijñā-pālana (keeping one’s promise). For a king, truthfulness is not private morality alone; it safeguards the credibility and dharma of the entire dynasty.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra confronts Daśaratha for hesitating to send Rāma after having agreed, warning that breaking the promise would stain the Rāghava lineage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal integrity (rāja-satya): steadfastness in vows and consistency between word and deed, especially expected of an Ikṣvāku ruler.