Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 5

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

सौमित्रे योऽभिषेकार्थे मम सम्भार सम्भ्रमः ।

अभिषेकनिवृत्त्यर्थे सोऽस्तु संभारसम्भ्रमः ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.22.5

Transliteration

saumitre yo ’bhiṣekārthe mama sambhāra-sambhramaḥ |

abhiṣeka-nivṛttyarthe so ’stu sambhāra-sambhramaḥ ||5||

Translation

ഹേ സൗമിത്രേ! എന്റെ അഭിഷേകത്തിനായി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന അതേ ഉത്സാഹപരമായ പരിശ്രമം, ഇപ്പോൾ ആ ഒരുക്കങ്ങൾ അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനായിരിക്കട്ടെ.

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Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• शङ्का-मयम्: full of apprehension
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट् (तद्धित)
• Form: तत्पुरुषवत् (शङ्कया मयम् = 'full of doubt'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'duḥkham')
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'उपेक्षितुम्' इत्यस्य कर्म
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (extent of time)
• Role: Kaaladhikarana (कालाधिकरण)

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-समुच्चय/अल्पार्थ (particle: 'even/also')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• उत्सहे: I am able/willing
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; नकारेण निषेध
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• मनसि: in the mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• प्रतिसंजातम्: arisen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + सम् + जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'duḥkham')
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सौमित्रे: O Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• उपेक्षितुम्: to neglect
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + ईक्ष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; 'to neglect/overlook' (क्रियार्थ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• tasyāśśaṅkāmayaṅ→tasyāḥ śaṅkāmayam
• muhūrtamapi→muhūrtam api
• nōtsahē→na utsahe
• saumitrē.ham→saumitre aham

Context

O Lakshmana! the same enthusiasm with which preparations for my consecration were made be shown for the cessation of those arrangements.

The teaching

True steadiness is shown not only in initiating great works but also in ending them promptly when dharma requires.

Duties in tension

• Continuing auspicious royal rite vs stopping it to uphold higher obligation
• Personal honor vs obedience to unfolding royal command

Ethical theme

Dharma-niṣṭhā / self-mastery

How it resolves

Disciplined reversal of action

For your practice

Cultivates equanimity and readiness to renounce; trains the mind to redirect effort without resentment.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Decisive, disciplined, unattached

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Discipline
• Non-attachment
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sumitrā
• abhiṣeka (coronation rites)

FAQs

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

Dharma is consistency in right action: the same diligence used for gaining power must be used to relinquish it when duty requires.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to redirect the palace’s coronation energy toward orderly cancellation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Samatā (even-mindedness) and disciplined resolve—Rāma treats ascent and withdrawal with equal seriousness.