Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 29

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Devanagari script

मा च लक्ष्मण सन्तापं कार्षीर्लक्ष्म्या विपर्यये ।

राज्यं वा वनवासो वा वनवासो महोदयः ॥२९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.22.29

Transliteration

mā ca lakṣmaṇa santāpaṃ kārṣīr lakṣmyā viparyaye |

rājyaṃ vā vanavāso vā vanavāso mahodayaḥ ||29||

Translation

Jangan bersedih, wahai Lakṣmaṇa, atas terbaliknya nasib ini. Sama ada kerajaan atau tinggal di rimba—tinggal di rimba itulah kemuliaan yang lebih agung.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with लोट्/लङ् etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• सन्तापम्: grief
• सन्तापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्षीः: you should do/make
• कार्षीः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Prohibitive usage with मा), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्म्याः: of fortune/royal prosperity
• लक्ष्म्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विपर्यये: in reversal; in loss
• विपर्यये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• राज्यम्: kingship
• राज्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• वनवासः: forest-dwelling; exile
• वनवासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• वनवासः: forest-dwelling
• वनवासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महोदयः: glorious; of great outcome
• महोदयः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महोदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् उदयः यस्य/महान् उदयः = great rise); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Context

Do not grieve, O Lakshmana, over the loss of the kingdom. Living in exile is more glorious than running the kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• rājya (kingdom)
• vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Dharma is valuing righteousness over status: exile embraced for duty can be more glorious than power gained without moral clarity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma consoles Lakṣmaṇa after the kingdom is lost, reframing forest exile as an honorable path.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya (detachment) and moral courage—Rāma treats loss as an opportunity for higher discipline.