Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 8

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

न बुद्धिपूर्वं नाबुद्धं स्मरामीह कदाचन ।

मातृ़णां वा पितुर्वाऽहं कृतमल्पं च विप्रियम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.22.8

Transliteration

na buddhi-pūrvaṃ nābuddhaṃ smarāmīha kadācana |

mātṝṇāṃ vā pitur vā ’haṃ kṛtam alpaṃ ca vipriyam ||8||

Translation

अहं कदाचन न बुद्धिपूर्वं नाबुद्धं स्मरामि, मातॄणां पितुर्वा अल्पमपि विप्रियं कृतवानिति।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• भवेत्: would arise/be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• कर्मणि: act/matter
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• अ-प्रतिसंहृते: not withdrawn
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + सम् + हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + अ (नञ्)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'karmaṇi')
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• सत्यम्: (my) promise/word (truth)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्यांशे उद्धृतवचन (quoted content)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• मनस्-तापः: mental anguish
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मनसः तापः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject of 'bhavet')
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तस्य: his
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• तापः: pain
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject of 'tapet')
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तपेत्: would torment/burn
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

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

• माम्: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• tasyā.pi→tasya api
• bhavēdasminkarmaṇyapratisaṅhṛtē→bhavet asmin karmaṇi apratisaṃhṛte
• satyaṅ nēti→satyam na iti
• tapēcca→tapet ca

Context

I do not remember to have done anything any time with a motive or without understanding which might have caused even a little displeasure to father or mothers.

The teaching

Maintain such conduct that conscience finds no trace of intentional or careless harm toward parents; blamelessness becomes strength in crisis.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma / filial piety

For your practice

Daily self-review (svādhyāya) and cultivation of non-harm in family relations; supports humility and steadiness.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Self-examining, humble, sincere

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Filial piety
• Humility
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī
• Kauśalyā
• Sumitrā

FAQs

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

Dharma is careful conduct toward parents/elders—Rāma frames his life as one of conscientious non-harm in word and deed.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of the coronation reversal, Rāma reflects on his lifelong effort not to cause displeasure to his father or mothers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and śīla (good character)—a disciplined life attentive to familial duty.