Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 30

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

ऋषिणा च पितुर्वाक्यं कुर्वता व्रतचारिणा।गौर्हता जानता धर्मं कण्डुनाऽपि विपश्चिता।।2.21.30।।

Transliteration

ṛṣiṇā ca pitur vākyaṃ kurvatā vratacāriṇā |

gaur hatā jānatā dharmaṃ kaṇḍunā ’pi vipaścitā || 2.21.30 ||

Translation

पितुर्वाक्यं कुर्वता व्रतचारिणा धर्मं जानता विपश्चिता ऋषिणा कण्डुना अपि गौर्हता।

Word by Word

• ऋषिणा: by the sage
• ऋषिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): ‘and’

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्वता: while fulfilling
• कुर्वता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kurvat (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘doing/fulfilling’ (agreeing with ऋषिणा)

• व्रतचारिणा: by a vow-observer
• व्रतचारिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘one who practices vows’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (agreeing with ऋषिणा)

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हता: was slain
• हता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han हन्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: ‘was slain’ (agreeing with गौः)

• जानता: by one knowing
• जानता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jānat (कृदन्त; √jñā ज्ञा)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘knowing’ (agreeing with कण्डुना/विपश्चिता)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कण्डुना: by Kandu
• कण्डुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇḍu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘even/also’

• विपश्चिता: by the learned (one)
• विपश्चिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipaścit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘learned/wise’ (agreeing with कण्डुना)

Context

Learned sage Kandu who knew what is righteousness and a strict observant of vows, slew a cow for carrying out the command of his father.

Characters & Entities

• Kandu
• father (of Kandu)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds pitṛ-vākya-pālana—treating a father’s command as a binding duty—even when the action appears morally troubling, thereby presenting obedience as a powerful (and complex) dharmic claim in traditional narratives.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is consoling Kausalya and defending his resolve to follow his father’s order; he cites earlier exemplars to show that such obedience has precedent among revered figures.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in duty (dharma-niṣṭhā) expressed as unwavering commitment to fulfilling a पिता’s command.