Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः।स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत्।।2.21.5।।

Transliteration

na taṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ loke parokṣam api yo naraḥ |

svamitraḥ api nirastaḥ api yo 'sya doṣam udāharet || 2.21.5 ||

Translation

ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਲੋਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਐਸਾ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨਹੀਂ ਵੇਖਦਾ—ਨਾ ਵੈਰੀ, ਨਾ ਹਾਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ—ਜੋ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕੋਈ ਖ਼ਾਮੀ ਪਿੱਠ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਵੀ ਆਖੇ; ਆਪਣਾ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਤਿਆਗਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• paśyāmi: I see/find
• paśyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 1st person, Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st), Singular; pronoun

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• parokṣam: in (his) absence / unseen
• parokṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used adverbially with api = 'even in absence'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (nipāta)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• naraḥ: man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• sva-mitraḥ: (even) his own friend
• sva-mitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; compound meaning 'one's own friend'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• nirastaḥ: rejected / cast off
• nirastaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-as (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/क्त-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'rejected/expelled'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun (repeated)

• asya: of him / his
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad/idam pronoun stem (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• doṣam: fault
• doṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• udāharet: should cite/mention
• udāharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular

Context

O mother! in withdrawing the articles (for consecration) and also in subduing the sorrow in your heart approve of my plan to dwell in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

The verse upholds the ideal of blameless conduct: true dharma is so transparent that even opponents cannot credibly accuse one of wrongdoing, even in private.

What is the narrative situation?

In the tense moment surrounding the forest-exile decision, Rama speaks to steady his mother and family, emphasizing the unimpeachable character and public regard connected to the situation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (anavadya-ācāra)—a reputation grounded in consistent righteousness, respected even by adversaries.