Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 6

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

देवकल्पमृजुं दान्तं रिपूणामपि वत्सलम्।अवेक्षमाणः को धर्मं त्यजेत्पुत्रमकारणात्।।2.21.6।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.6

Transliteration

devakalpam ṛjuṁ dāntaṁ ripūṇām api vatsalam | avekṣamāṇaḥ ko dharmaṁ tyajet putram akāraṇāt || 2.21.6 ||

Translation

தேவர்போல் உயர்ந்த, நேர்மையான, தன்னடக்கமுடைய, பகைவர்க்கும் அன்பான மகனை—காரணமின்றி கைவிட்டு, தர்மத்தைப் புறக்கணிப்பவர் யார்?

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Word by Word

• deva-kalpam: god-like
• deva-kalpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; upamā/tatpuruṣa 'like a god'

• ṛjum: upright
• ṛjum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛju (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• dāntam: self-controlled
• dāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participial adjective from √dam (दम्) 'tamed'; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ripūṇām: of enemies
• ripūṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• vatsalam: affectionate
• vatsalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'affectionate' (towards ripūṇām api)

• avekṣamāṇaḥ: considering / looking at
• avekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'looking at/considering'

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; interrogative pronoun

• dharmam: righteousness/duty
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tyajet: would abandon
• tyajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• akāraṇāt: without cause
• akāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th), Singular; compound: a (neg.) + kāraṇa 'cause'

Context

Whatever a preceptor, an old man, a king and a father commands whether it is out of anger or pleasure or passion must be carried out as dharma. Who will not do it unless he is heartless?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• son (putra)
• enemies (ripu)

FAQs

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

Dharma forbids abandoning the innocent without just cause; moral governance and family duty require fairness, restraint, and reasoned judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

In Ayodhyā, amid the turmoil around Daśaratha’s decision and the impending exile, Rāma argues that abandoning a virtuous son without cause would violate dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s portrayal emphasizes self-control, uprightness, and universal goodwill—so exemplary that even enemies feel affection.