Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 32

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Setting: Ayodhyā (public/courtly awareness implied)

Devanagari script

न चास्य महतीं लक्ष्मीं राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति ।

लोककान्तस्य कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेरिव क्षपा ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.19.32

Transliteration

na cāsya mahatīṃ lakṣmīṃ rājyanāśo 'pakarṣati |

lokakāntasya kāntatvāc chītaraśmer iva kṣapā ||32||

Translation

രാജ്യം നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടിട്ടും അവന്റെ മഹത്തായ തേജസ് ക്ഷയിച്ചില്ല; ജനങ്ങളുടെ പ്രിയനായതിനാൽ, ശീതരശ്മിയായ ചന്ദ്രന്റെ പ്രകാശത്തെ രാത്രി കുറയ്ക്കാൻ കഴിയാത്തതുപോലെ അവന്റെ കാന്തി നിലനിന്നു.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)

• अस्य: of him/his
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)

• महतीम्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies लक्ष्मीम्)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)

• लक्ष्मीम्: splendour/fortune
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• राज्यनाशः: loss of kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य+नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राज्यस्य नाशः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अपकर्षति: diminishes/draws away
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप+कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)

• लोककान्तस्य: of the people's beloved
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक+कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लोकस्य कान्तः); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• कान्तत्वात्: because of loveliness
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्तत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)

• शीतरश्मेः: of the cool-rayed (moon)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत+रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास: शीतः रश्मिः यस्य (i.e., moon); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Upamāna-sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध/Standard of comparison)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)
• Role: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)

• क्षपा: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Upamāna (उपमान/Compared entity)

Sandhi Notes

• चास्य→च अस्य
• राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति→राज्यनाशः अपकर्षति
• कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेः→कान्तत्वात् शीतरश्मेः (t + ś → cch sandhi)

Context

Rama was the beloved of the people. Loss of kingdom did not diminish his splendour just like night cannot diminish the splendour of the cool-rayed Moon.

The teaching

True splendor arises from virtue and public love grounded in righteousness, not from possession of a kingdom.

Ethical theme

Guṇa/ācāra (virtue ethics)

Devotion and practice

Contemplation on undiminished inner light amid loss; cultivate steadiness and goodwill.

Deity praised

Rāma (as ideal kingly radiance)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Luminous, unshaken, admired

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Inner virtue
• Detachment
• Maryada
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Moon (śītaraśmi/candra)
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

True worth is intrinsic and grounded in dharma: external loss (like kingship) cannot reduce the radiance of a virtuous person whose character is stable and beneficent.

What is the narrative situation?

After the reversal of Rama’s coronation, the narration emphasizes that his natural splendour and public belovedness remain unchanged.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral luminosity and steadfastness (tejas rooted in dharma), independent of political power.