Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.1-2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shlokas 1-2
अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः
Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana
Setting: Ayodhya (royal precincts, immediate aftermath of exile decree)
अथ तं व्यथया दीनं सविशेषममर्षितम् ।
श्वसन्तमिव नागेन्द्रं रोषविस्फारितेक्षणम् ॥१॥
आसाद्य रामस्सौमित्रिं सुहृदं भ्रातरं प्रियम् ।
उवाचेदं स धैर्येण धारयन्सत्त्वमात्मवान् ॥२॥
atha taṁ vyathayā dīnaṁ saviśeṣam amarṣitam |
śvasantam iva nāgendraṁ roṣavisphāritekṣaṇam ||1||
āsādya rāmaḥ saumitriṁ suhṛdaṁ bhrātaraṁ priyam |
uvāca idaṁ sa dhairyeṇa dhārayan sattvam ātmavān ||2||
Então Rāma, senhor de si e firme, aproximou-se de Saumitri—seu querido irmão e amigo leal—que, esmagado pela aflição e ardendo de indignação, parecia uma grande serpente sibilante, com os olhos dilatados pela ira; e, com fortaleza, Rāma lhe falou, mantendo intacta a compostura.
Sandhi Notes
- taṅ→taṃ
- dīnaṅ→dīnaṃ
- saviśēṣamamarṣitam→saviśeṣam amarṣitam
- śvasantamiva→śvasantam iva
- nāgēndraṅ→nāgendram
- rōṣavisphāritēkṣaṇam→roṣa-visphārita-īkṣaṇam
- rāmassaumitriṅ→rāmaḥ saumitriṃ
- uvācēdaṅ→uvāca idam
- dhārayansattvamātmavān→dhārayan sattvam ātmavān.
The self-possessed Rama held his composure and approached his beloved, intimate brother Lakshmana who was (looking) miserable with his mental agony. To him, who was hissing like a king cobra, he said:
The teaching
True strength is mastery over anger; uphold dharma through steadiness even when wronged.
Duties in tension
- Lakshmana's kƺatriya impulse to resist injustice vs duty to obey Rama's dharmic acceptance
- Fraternal protection vs adherence to royal command and higher dharma
- Ethical theme
- Self-control (dama) and fraternal duty
- How it resolves
- Counsel_and_self-restraint
For your practice
Model for cultivating kƺamā (forbearance) and sattvic composure; useful for japa/meditation reflection on restraint in conflict.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)
- Mood
- Strained, protective, resolute
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Self-restraint
- Fraternal duty
- Maryada
Sattva as clarity and steadiness governing rajas (anger), akin to the Gītā ideal of sthitaprajña-like composure amid upheaval.
Kaha Upaniƺad chariot metaphor resonance: senses and mind must be reined; here Rāma models mastery over agitation.
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Elder brother consoles younger brother; comrades-in-exile (compassionate, steadfastness, meets, rage). Devoted attendant to dharmic exemplar (protective, indignation)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.20-2.23 (Lakshmana's anger; Rama's calming counsel); Bhagavad Gita 2.14-2.15 (endurance of dualities); Bhagavad Gita 2.56 (sthita-prajña: unshaken by sorrow/joy)
Upanishadic self-mastery themes (Kaha, Śvetaśvatara)
Ayodhya-kāƷƽa: repeated epithet 'Saumitri' in counsel scenes; Rama's consistent dhairya in exile-related dialogues
Anuƺƽup (predominant in Vālmīki narrative ślokas)
Narrative solemn
Madhyama (middle register)
FAQs
Dharma here is emotional discipline in crisis: Rama models steadiness (dhairya, sattva) even when injustice provokes anger in others.
Immediately after the coronation plan is overturned, Lakshmana is enraged; Rama approaches him to calm and guide him.
Rama’s self-possession and leadership through calm counsel, contrasted with Lakshmana’s fierce protective anger.
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