Valmiki Ramayana 2.61.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 22

कौसल्याविलापः · Kausalya’s Lament and Ethical Analogies on Kingship

Spoken by Lakshmana to Dasharatha

Devanagari script

नैवं विधमसत्कारं राघवो मर्षयिष्यति ।

बलवानिव शार्दूलो वालधेरभिमर्शनम् ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.61.22

Transliteration

naivaṃ vidham asatkāraṃ rāghavo marṣayiṣyati |

balavān iva śārdūlo vāladhēr abhimarśanam ||22||

Translation

രാഘവൻ ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള അപമാനം ഒരിക്കലും സഹിക്കുകയില്ല; ശക്തനായ വ്യാഘ്രം തന്റെ വാൽ പിടിച്ചുലയ്ക്കുന്നതു പോലും സഹിക്കാത്തതുപോലെ.

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Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• etasya: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• sahitāḥ: united
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक; √sah क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; लोकाः इति विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• lokāḥ: people/worlds
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• bhayam: fear
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• kuryuḥ: would cause/make
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• mahā-mṛthe: in the great battle
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛtha/mṛdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘great battle’), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• adharmam: unrighteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• tu: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• iha: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशार्थक-अव्यय (here)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• dharmātmā: the righteous one
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose self is dharma’ = righteous one), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• lokam: the world/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• dharmeṇa: by righteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• yojayet: would yoke/establish (in)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• नैतस्य = न + एतस्य
• कुर्युर्महामृथे = कुर्युः + महा-मृथे
• त्विह = तु + इह

Context

A powerful tiger will not allow its tail to be twisted. In the same way Rama also will not tolerate an insult of this sort.

The teaching

Forbearance is a virtue, but enabling insult to dharma-bearing authority invites disorder; strength includes knowing the limit of tolerance.

Duties in tension

• Kṣamā (forbearance) vs kṣatriya-pratāp (defense of honor and order)
• Personal restraint vs deterrence of adharma

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / kṣatriya-dharma

How it resolves

Assertive restraint (warning of consequences)

For your practice

Meditation on Rāma’s controlled tejas: cultivate patience without surrendering moral boundaries.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Provoked, unyielding, dangerously restrained

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Honor
• Royal Dignity

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires protecting rightful dignity and justice; enduring adharma in the name of convenience corrodes moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker cautions that continued disrespect toward Rāma cannot be sustained without consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s sense of propriety and honor—firmness against wrongdoing, not petty pride.