Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम्।उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः।।2.21.1।।

Transliteration

tathā tu vilapantīṃ tāṃ kausalyāṃ rāmamātaram |

uvāca lakṣmaṇo dīnas tatkālasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ || 2.21.1 ||

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਰਾਮ ਦੀ ਮਾਤਾ ਕੌਸ਼ਲਿਆ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਲਾਪ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ, ਤਾਂ ਦੁਖੀ ਲਕਸ਼ਮਣ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਕੂਲ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਕਹੇ।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that way)

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

• विलपन्तीम्: lamenting
• विलपन्तीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ताम्/कौसल्याम्)

• ताम्: that (her)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/object of speaking to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• राममातरम्: Rama's mother
• राममातरम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘रामस्य माता’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कौसल्यायाः विशेषण

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

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दीनः: distressed
• दीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of लक्ष्मणः)

• तत्-काल-सदृशम्: befitting the occasion
• तत्-काल-सदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘तस्मिन् काले सदृशम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of वचः)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/object—what was said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Context

While Rama's mother, Kausalya was lamenting, miserable Lakshmana said to her these words appropriate to the occasion:

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Kausalya
• Rama

FAQs

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

It indicates dharma as timely counsel and supportive speech: in crisis, one must respond with words fitted to the moment, aiming to steady the afflicted and uphold righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalya is lamenting; Lakshmana, sharing the pain, begins addressing her with context-appropriate words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s loyalty and responsiveness—he does not remain passive but engages, attempting to meet the crisis with decisive speech.