Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.46 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 46

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात्पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम्।ययातिरिव राजर्षिःपुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम्।।2.21.46।।

Transliteration

tīrṇapratijñaś ca vanāt punar eṣyāmy ahaṃ purīm |

yayātir iva rājarṣiḥ purā hitvā punar divam ||2.21.46||

Translation

Исполнив обет, я вновь вернусь из леса в город — подобно царственному риши Яяти древних времён, который, пав с небес, снова их обрёл.

Word by Word

• तीर्ण-प्रतिज्ञः: one who has fulfilled (his) vow
• तीर्ण-प्रतिज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्ण (तॄ/तॄण् धातु + क्त) + प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘तीर्णा प्रतिज्ञा यस्य सः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of अहम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वनात्: from the forest
• वनात्: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th, ablative), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक (again)

• एष्यामि: I shall come/return
• एष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरीम्: to the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म—destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ययातिः: Yayati
• ययातिः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ययाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• राज-ऋषिः: royal sage
• राज-ऋषिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘राजा चासौ ऋषिः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ययातिः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly)

• हित्वा: having left
• हित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having left’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक

• दिवम्: heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म/object of hitvā—left)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Context

Like rajarshi Yayati of yore who lost heaven and rejained it, I shall return from theforest to the city (of Ayodhya) after the vow is fulfilled.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kausalyā
• Ayodhyā (puri, implied)
• vana (forest)
• Yayāti
• diva (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as a vow to be completed: hardship is temporary when endured for righteousness. The return is conditioned on faithful completion of duty.

What is the narrative situation?

To console Kausalyā, Rāma promises that after completing the exile-vow he will return, invoking Yayāti as an illustrative precedent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and reassurance: Rāma combines steadfastness in duty with compassionate encouragement to his grieving mother.