Shloka 21

Devanagari script

भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः।न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीमता।।2.24.21।।

Transliteration

bhavatyā mama caivādya rājā prabhavati prabhuḥ | na hy anāthā vayaṃ rājñā loka-nāthena dhīmatā || 2.24.21 ||

Translation

Pada hari ini, raja—yang berkuasa dan berwibawa—berhak memerintah engkau dan aku. Selagi baginda yang bijaksana, pelindung rakyat, menaungi kita, kita pasti bukanlah orang yang tiada pelindung.

Word by Word

भवत्याby/for you

ममof me, my

चand

एवindeed, only

अद्यtoday, now

राजाthe king

प्रभवतिis able, has authority, prevails

प्रभुःlord, master

नnot

हिindeed, for

अनाथाःwithout a protector

वयम्we

राज्ञाby the king

लोकनाथेनby the lord of the world

धीमताby the wise one

Context

The powerful king has authority over you as well as over me. As long as he is the sagacious lord of the entire world, how can we be without a master?

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Kauśalyā

Daśaratha (king)

FAQs

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

It affirms rājadharma and household order: legitimate authority (the king/father) binds family members, and duty is performed within that structure rather than by impulsive flight.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma answers Kauśalyā’s wish to follow him by stressing Daśaratha’s continuing authority and the need for her to remain under his care.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness in dharma—recognizing lawful authority even when it causes personal loss.