Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 17

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma-based persuasion of Kausalyā

Devanagari script

दीप्तमग्निमरण्यं वा यदि रामः प्रवेक्ष्यति।प्रविष्टं तत्र मां देवि त्वं पूर्वमवधारय।।2.21.17।।

Transliteration

dīptam agnim araṇyaṃ vā yadi rāmaḥ pravekṣyati |

praviṣṭaṃ tatra māṃ devi tvaṃ pūrvam avadhāraya ||2.21.17||

Translation

Wahai Bonda, ketahuilah terlebih dahulu: jika Rāma memasuki api yang menyala-nyala atau rimba belantara, maka aku, wahai Dewi, akan masuk ke sana terlebih dahulu.

Word by Word

• dīptam: blazing
• dīptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dīp धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with agnim (sense: blazing fire) in epic usage

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• araṇyam: forest
• araṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya ‘or’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Śart-avyaya (शर्तार्थक) conditional particle ‘if’

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pravekṣyati: will enter
• pravekṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्, periphrastic future), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• praviṣṭam: (me) entered/having entered
• praviṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praviṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra+√viś धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used predicatively with mām (sense: ‘me, having entered’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (देशवाचक) adverb ‘there’

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• devi: O mother
• devi: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• pūrvam: first/beforehand
• pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (कालवाचक) adverb ‘before/first’

• avadhāraya: know/consider firmly
• avadhāraya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

Like the rising Sun dispelling darkness, I shall eliminate your sorrow. O mother! Let Rama see my valour. You, too.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• fire (agni)
• forest (araṇya)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes seva (service) and solidarity as dharma: standing with the righteous person in hardship, not merely in comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa declares he will accompany Rāma into any danger, including exile into the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrificing loyalty and courage—choosing companionship in suffering as a moral duty.