Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 44

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तमेवमुत्त्वा सौहार्दाद्भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।उवाच भूयः कौसल्यां प्राञ्जलिश्शिरसानतः।।2.21.44।।

Transliteration

tam evam uktvā sauhārdād bhrātaraṃ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ |

uvāca bhūyaḥ kausalyāṃ prāñjaliḥ śirasā nataḥ ||2.21.44||

Translation

ଏଭଳି ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ୟରେ ଭ୍ରାତାଙ୍କୁ କହି, ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଅଗ୍ରଜ ଶ୍ରୀରାମ ପୁନର୍ବାର କୌସଲ୍ୟାଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ବୋଧନ କଲେ—କରଯୋଡ଼ି, ଶିର ନମାଇ।

Word by Word

• तम्: to him/that one
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/object of uktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having spoken’

• सौहार्दात्: out of affection
• सौहार्दात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौहार्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th, ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (from affection)

• भ्रातरम्: (his) brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म/object of speaking to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मण-अग्रजः: Lakshmana's elder brother (Rama)
• लक्ष्मण-अग्रजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रजः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक (again/further)

• कौसल्याम्: to Kausalya
• कौसल्याम्: Karma (कर्म/object addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of लक्ष्मणाग्रजः): ‘with folded hands’

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• नतः: bowed
• नतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of लक्ष्मणाग्रजः)

Context

Speaking affectionately to his brother Lakshmana, Rama with folded hands and head bowed again addressed Kausalya:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as maryādā (propriety): humility, respectful speech, and reverence toward one’s mother even amid personal crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After calming Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma turns back to Kausalyā and prepares to seek her consent and blessings for the forest exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s courtesy and filial devotion—his respectful bodily posture (folded hands, bowed head) embodies inner discipline.