Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.58 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 58
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः
Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā
गुरुश्च राजा च पिता च वृद्धःक्रोधात्प्रहर्षाद्यदि वाऽपि कामात्।यद्व्यादिशेत्कार्यमवेक्ष्य धर्मंकस्तन्न कुर्यादनृशंसवृत्तिः।2.21.58।।
guruś ca rājā ca pitā ca vṛddhaḥ krodhāt praharṣād yadi vā 'pi kāmāt | yad vyādiśet kāryam avekṣya dharmaṁ kas tan na kuryād anṛśaṁsavṛttiḥ || 2.21.58 ||
गुरु, राजा, पिता किंवा वृद्ध—क्रोधाने, हर्षाने किंवा इच्छेनेही—धर्माचा विचार करून जे कार्य आज्ञापित करतील, ते कोण करणार नाही? केवळ निर्दयी वृत्तीच न करील.
Grant me permission O mother, to depart for the forest. Bless me and perform ceremonies for my well-being so that I shall return (to the city) after completion (of my exile) like Yayati (who came back to heaven) with the strength of truth.
FAQs
Dharma here is disciplined obedience to legitimate authority figures (guru, king, father, elder), treating their instruction as a binding moral duty rather than a matter of personal preference.
Rāma explains to his mother why he must accept and enact the command that results in his forest exile, grounding his decision in dharma.
Rāma’s steadfast adherence to duty (dharma-niṣṭhā) and refusal to act from resentment, even under painful circumstances.
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