Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 5
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma
based persuasion of Kausalyā
Spoken by RamaSetting: Ayodhya (implied)
न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः ।
स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत् ॥५॥
na taṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ loke parokṣam api yo naraḥ |
svamitraḥ api nirastaḥ api yo 'sya doṣam udāharet ||5||
या जगात असा कोणताही मनुष्य मला दिसत नाही की—शत्रू असो वा पराभूत असो—तोही पाठीमागे त्याचा दोष उच्चारील.
Sandhi Notes
- paśyāmyahaṃ = paśyāmi + aham
- parokṣamapi = parokṣam + api
- svamitro'pi = sva-mitraḥ + api
- nirasto'pi = nirastaḥ + api
- yo'sya = yaḥ + asya
- doṣamudāharet = doṣam + udāharet
I do not find anybody in this world, even an adversary or one defeated, who finds fault with him even in his absence.
The teaching
A ruler’s true virtue is such that even opponents cannot credibly malign him; private speech becomes a measure of public righteousness.
- Ethical theme
- Rāja-dharma/nīti (integrity and reputation)
Devotion and practice
Encourages guarding speech and cultivating blameless conduct so that even private criticism finds no foothold.
- Deity praised
- Daśaratha as righteous king (not a deity)
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Defensive, admiring, assured
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Maryada
- Ethics
- Itihasa
- Filial duty
- Royal virtue
Virtue as inner purity manifesting outwardly; the truly righteous remains unassailable even in absence—echoing the idea that dharma is self-luminous.
Ethic of truth and right speech; the moral weight of speech aligns with Upaniṣadic valuation of satya.
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son’s defense of father-king’s blamelessness (protective-reverent)
- Enemy and Dasharatha
- Even enemies cannot fault him (respectful-reluctant)
Rāmāyaṇa: multiple attestations of Daśaratha’s virtues and kīrti in Bāla/Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa contexts; Mahābhārata: ideals of rāja-dharma where even enemies praise a righteous king (general parallel)
Dharmaśāstric and nīti traditions on a king’s spotless reputation
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Rāma’s repeated defense of Daśaratha’s intent and virtue despite the exile outcome
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative-assertive
Clear, slightly elevated tone on ‘na taṃ paśyāmi’; firm closure on ‘doṣam udāharet’
FAQs
The verse upholds the ideal of blameless conduct: true dharma is so transparent that even opponents cannot credibly accuse one of wrongdoing, even in private.
In the tense moment surrounding the forest-exile decision, Rama speaks to steady his mother and family, emphasizing the unimpeachable character and public regard connected to the situation.
Integrity (anavadya-ācāra)—a reputation grounded in consistent righteousness, respected even by adversaries.
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