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
Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya (implied)Places named: vana, purī, divam (heaven)Outbound to forest with promised return
तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात्पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम् ।
ययातिरिव राजर्षिःपुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम् ॥४६॥
tīrṇapratijñaś ca vanāt punar eṣyāmy ahaṃ purīm |
yayātir iva rājarṣiḥ purā hitvā punar divam ||46||
เมื่อข้าพเจ้าข้ามพ้นปฏิญญาและทำสำเร็จแล้ว ข้าพเจ้าจะกลับจากป่าเข้าสู่นครอีกครั้ง—ดุจราชฤๅษียยาติในกาลก่อน ผู้ตกจากสวรรค์แล้วได้สวรรค์คืนมาอีกครา
Sandhi Notes
- तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च = तीर्णप्रतिज्ञः + च
- वनात्पुनर् = वनात् + पुनः
- एष्याम्यहं = एष्यामि + अहम्
- राजर्षिः = राज-ऋषिः
- पुनर्दिवम् = पुनः + दिवम्
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.
The teaching
A vow completed restores order; endurance in hardship is validated by exemplars from ancient lore.
- Ethical theme
- Satya/pratijñā (truthfulness and keeping one’s word)
- How it resolves
- Affirmation of vow-fulfillment and promised return
For your practice
Strengthens saṅkalpa (vow-discipline) and patience; encourages recalling dharmic exemplars to sustain resolve.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Vow-bound, hopeful, composed
Themes
- Dharma
- Vow
- Hope
- Itihasa reference
- Perseverance
Fall and return as saṃsāric oscillation; steadfastness in dharma as inner ascent rather than external svarga.
Implicit contrast between transient svarga and enduring rightness; echoes the Upaniṣadic critique of svarga as impermanent compared to higher attainment.
- Rama and Kausalya
- Son reassuring mother of return after vow (assuring)
- Rama and Yayati
- Exemplary comparison (itihāsa-dṛṣṭānta) (didactic)
- Yayati and Heaven
- Fall and re-attainment of svarga as moral exemplar (aspirational)
- Rama and Ayodhya
- Rightful prince anticipating return to city (steadfast)
Mahābhārata, Ādiparvan/Śāntiparvan traditions on Yayāti’s fall from svarga and moral causality (Yayāti-upākhyāna); Purāṇic retellings of Yayāti’s svarga episode
Itihāsa exemplum usage: citing ancient royal sages to validate present dharma
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated assurances of return after completing exile term and vow
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative-solemn
Steady udātta emphasis on pratijñā and punar-eṣyāmi; slight lift on dṛṣṭānta name ‘Yayāti’
FAQs
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.
To console Kausalyā, Rāma promises that after completing the exile-vow he will return, invoking Yayāti as an illustrative precedent.
Resolve and reassurance: Rāma combines steadfastness in duty with compassionate encouragement to his grieving mother.
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