Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 37

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तामेवमुक्त्वा जननीं लक्ष्मणं पुनरब्रवीत्।वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठश्श्रेष्ठस्सर्वधनुष्मताम्।।2.21.37।।

Transliteration

tām evam uktvā jananīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ punar abravīt |

vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarva-dhanuṣmatām || 2.21.37 ||

Translation

Tendo assim falado à sua mãe, Rāma—o mais eminente entre os mestres da palavra e o melhor de todos os arqueiros—tornou a dirigir-se a Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'her' (jananīm)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having said'

• jananīm: mother
• jananīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (again)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vākyam: words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'speech/words' (object of abravīt)

• vākyavidām: of speech-knowers
• vākyavidām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya-vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (vākyam veda iti) 'of the knowers of speech'

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणं (implied subject: Rāma)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ (emphatic repetition)

• sarvadhanuṣmatām: of all archers
• sarvadhanuṣmatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-dhanuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarveṣām dhanuṣmatām) 'among/of all archers'

Context

One who is the best among the knowers of speech and best of all archers, Rama spoke to his mother in this manner and then said to Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya (mother)
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharmic leadership as inseparable from disciplined speech and capability: Rama’s moral stance is paired with eloquence and martial excellence.

What is the narrative situation?

A narrative pivot: after addressing Kausalya, the focus shifts to Rama’s next instruction/conversation with Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence in speech (vāg-vaibhava) and mastery in arms—competence supporting righteousness.