Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.49: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 49

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal quarters/palace context implied)Places named: vana (forest)Pre-departure; resolve toward forest-exile (vanavāsa)

Devanagari script

अम्ब संहृत्य सम्भारान् दुःखं हृदि निगृह्य च ।

वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्मम धर्म्याऽनु वर्त्यताम् ॥४९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.49

Transliteration

amba saṃhṛtya sambhārān duḥkhaṃ hṛdi nigṛhya ca |

vanavāsa-kṛtā buddhir mama dharmyā 'nuvartyatām ||49||

Translation

Wahai ibu, hentikanlah segala persiapan, dan tahanlah dukacita di dalam hati; semoga tekadku—yang berlandaskan dharma untuk berdiam di rimba—diterima dan diikuti sebagai jalan kebenaran.

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Word by Word

• अम्ब: O mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (feminine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative; case 1 used as संबोधन), एकवचनम् (singular)
• Role: सम्बोधन (Address)

• संहृत्य: having withdrawn/collected
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √हृ (धातु) → संहृत्य (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्तम् अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): ‘having withdrawn/collected’
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier of main verb)

• सम्भारान्: articles, requisites, preparations
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative; case 2), बहुवचनम् (plural)
• Role: कर्म (Object)

• दुःखम्: sorrow, grief
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative; case 2), एकवचनम् (singular)
• Role: कर्म (Object) [of निगृह्य]

• हृदि: in the heart
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative; case 7), एकवचनम् (singular)
• Role: अधिकरण (Location)

• निगृह्य: having subdued/restrained
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + √ग्रह् (धातु) → निगृह्य (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्तम् अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): ‘having restrained/subdued’
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier of main verb)

• च: and, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction/particle: ‘and/also’)
• Role: समुच्चय (Connector)

• वनवासकृता: caused by (my) forest-dwelling
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन + वास + कृता (प्रातिपदिक; components: वन (forest) + वास (dwelling) + कृता (made/caused))
• Form: समासः: वनवासेन कृता (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; ‘made by/caused by forest-dwelling’). स्त्रीलिङ्गः (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative; case 1), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) बुद्धिः-शब्दस्य
• Role: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• बुद्धिः: thought, intention, resolve
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative; case 1), एकवचनम् (singular)
• Role: कर्तृ (Subject) [of वर्त्यताम्]

• मम: my, of me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (genitive; case 6), एकवचनम् (singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/Relation)

• धर्म्या: righteous, conforming to duty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (nominative; case 1), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) बुद्धिः-शब्दस्य
• Role: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)

• अनु: in accordance with, after
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्ययम् (preverb/indeclinable): ‘after, in accordance with’ (here governing sense with वर्त्यताम्)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/Preverbal modifier)

• वर्त्यताम्: let (it) be followed / let (it) proceed accordingly
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √वृत् (धातु) → वर्त्यताम् (आज्ञार्थे लोट्; कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular); आत्मनेपदम् (middle). भावः/कर्मणि-प्रयोगः: ‘let it be followed/let it proceed in accordance’
• Role: विधेय (Predicate verb)

Sandhi Notes

• अम्ब (सम्बोधन)
• दुःखं हृदि (अनुस्वार-सन्धिः)
• बुद्धिर्मम = बुद्धिः + मम (विसर्ग-लोपः/रेफ-सन्धिः)
• धर्म्याऽनु = धर्म्या + अनु (अवग्रहः; अकार-सन्धिः)
• ‘अनु वर्त्यताम्’ is written separately though semantically the verb is ‘अनुवर्त्यताम्’

Context

O mother! in withdrawing the articles (for consecration) and also in subduing the sorrow in your heart approve of my plan to dwell in the forest.

The teaching

Dharma is upheld through inner mastery: even grief must be governed so righteous action can proceed.

Duties in tension

• Filial duty to obey father’s pledge/royal command
• Duty to comfort and protect mother
• Personal welfare vs righteous renunciation

Ethical theme

Dharma-sankata (conflict of duties)

How it resolves

Prioritizing rājadharma/pitṛ-vacana and self-restraint while counseling emotional discipline

For your practice

Practice of śoka-nigraha and dharma-niścaya; cultivating steadiness when duty demands sacrifice.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Resolute, restrained, dutiful

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Itihasa
• Renunciation
• Obedience to vow

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfast adherence to a rightful decision, even when it causes personal sorrow—Rama asks that emotion be governed by duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama addresses Kausalya, asking her to stop coronation arrangements and to accept his decision to go to the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (dama) and resolve (dhṛti) in service of dharma.