Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.1-2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shlokas 1-2
अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः
Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana
Setting: Ayodhya (royal precincts, immediate aftermath of exile decree)
अथ तं व्यथया दीनं सविशेषममर्षितम् ।
श्वसन्तमिव नागेन्द्रं रोषविस्फारितेक्षणम् ॥१॥
आसाद्य रामस्सौमित्रिं सुहृदं भ्रातरं प्रियम् ।
उवाचेदं स धैर्येण धारयन्सत्त्वमात्मवान् ॥२॥
atha taṁ vyathayā dīnaṁ saviśeṣam amarṣitam |
śvasantam iva nāgendraṁ roṣavisphāritekṣaṇam ||1||
āsādya rāmaḥ saumitriṁ suhṛdaṁ bhrātaraṁ priyam |
uvāca idaṁ sa dhairyeṇa dhārayan sattvam ātmavān ||2||
Maka Rāma, yang teguh dan menguasai diri, mendekati Saumitri—adinda yang dikasihi serta sahabat setia—yang dilanda dukacita dan menyala oleh amarah, bagaikan raja ular mendesis dengan mata terbeliak kerana murka. Dengan ketabahan, Rāma pun bertutur kepadanya, memegang kukuh ketenangan batin.
Sandhi Notes
- taṅ→taṃ
- dīnaṅ→dīnaṃ
- saviśēṣamamarṣitam→saviśeṣam amarṣitam
- śvasantamiva→śvasantam iva
- nāgēndraṅ→nāgendram
- rōṣavisphāritēkṣaṇam→roṣa-visphārita-īkṣaṇam
- rāmassaumitriṅ→rāmaḥ saumitriṃ
- uvācēdaṅ→uvāca idam
- dhārayansattvamātmavān→dhārayan sattvam ātmavān.
The self-possessed Rama held his composure and approached his beloved, intimate brother Lakshmana who was (looking) miserable with his mental agony. To him, who was hissing like a king cobra, he said:
The teaching
True strength is mastery over anger; uphold dharma through steadiness even when wronged.
Duties in tension
- Lakshmana's kƺatriya impulse to resist injustice vs duty to obey Rama's dharmic acceptance
- Fraternal protection vs adherence to royal command and higher dharma
- Ethical theme
- Self-control (dama) and fraternal duty
- How it resolves
- Counsel_and_self-restraint
For your practice
Model for cultivating kƺamā (forbearance) and sattvic composure; useful for japa/meditation reflection on restraint in conflict.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)
- Mood
- Strained, protective, resolute
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Self-restraint
- Fraternal duty
- Maryada
Sattva as clarity and steadiness governing rajas (anger), akin to the Gītā ideal of sthitaprajña-like composure amid upheaval.
Kaha Upaniƺad chariot metaphor resonance: senses and mind must be reined; here Rāma models mastery over agitation.
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Elder brother consoles younger brother; comrades-in-exile (compassionate, steadfastness, meets, rage). Devoted attendant to dharmic exemplar (protective, indignation)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.20-2.23 (Lakshmana's anger; Rama's calming counsel); Bhagavad Gita 2.14-2.15 (endurance of dualities); Bhagavad Gita 2.56 (sthita-prajña: unshaken by sorrow/joy)
Upanishadic self-mastery themes (Kaha, Śvetaśvatara)
Ayodhya-kāƷƽa: repeated epithet 'Saumitri' in counsel scenes; Rama's consistent dhairya in exile-related dialogues
Anuƺƽup (predominant in Vālmīki narrative ślokas)
Narrative solemn
Madhyama (middle register)
FAQs
Dharma here is emotional discipline in crisis: Rama models steadiness (dhairya, sattva) even when injustice provokes anger in others.
Immediately after the coronation plan is overturned, Lakshmana is enraged; Rama approaches him to calm and guide him.
Rama’s self-possession and leadership through calm counsel, contrasted with Lakshmana’s fierce protective anger.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
