Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 28

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Devanagari script

अथवा किं ममैतेन राजद्रव्यमयेन तु।उद्धृतं मे स्वयं तोयं व्रतादेशं करिष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

athavā kiṃ mamaitena rāja-dravya-mayena tu | uddhṛtaṃ me svayaṃ toyaṃ vratādeśaṃ kariṣyati ||

Translation

ନଚେତ୍, ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପାତ୍ରରେ ରଖାଯାଇଥିବା ଏହି ରାଜଦ୍ରବ୍ୟମୟ ଜଳ ମୋ ପାଇଁ କ’ଣ ଉପକାରୀ? ମୁଁ ନିଜ ହାତରେ ଉଠାଇଥିବା ଜଳ ହିଁ ମୋର ବ୍ରତାନୁଷ୍ଠାନକୁ ସାର୍ଥକ କରିବ।

Word by Word

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

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• मम: for me; my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• एतेन: with this
• एतेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• राजद्रव्यमयेन: made of royal goods
• राजद्रव्यमयेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजद्रव्य + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (राजद्रव्यस्य मयः = made of royal property); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying एतेन)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• उद्धृतम्: drawn (up)
• उद्धृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तोयम्)

• मे: my; for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)

• स्वयम्: by myself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: oneself)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्रतादेशम्: injunction for a vow
• व्रतादेशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vow's injunction); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• करिष्यति: will accomplish; will effect
• करिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Even for a moment, O Lakshmana! I am not inclined to ignore her sorrow caused by the apprehension in her mind (about the possibility of Rama's coronation).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• water (toya)
• vrata (vow/observance)

FAQs

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

Dharma is non-appropriation and purity of conduct: Rāma refuses to rely on royal property while entering a vow-bound life.

What is the narrative situation?

Preparing for a life of restraint, Rāma indicates he will use water drawn by himself rather than items associated with royal privilege.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aparigraha and simplicity—Rāma embraces self-reliance consistent with vrata and exile-dharma.