Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 24

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

यथैव राजा पूज्यस्ते गौरवेण तथाऽस्म्यहम्।त्वां नाहमनुजानामि न गन्तव्यमितो वनम्।।2.21.24।।

Transliteration

yathaiva rājā pūjyas te gauraveṇa tathā 'smy aham | tvāṃ nāham anujānāmi na gantavyam ito vanam || 2.21.24 ||

Translation

Kung paanong ang hari ay karapat-dapat sa iyong mapitagang paggalang, gayon din ako. Hindi kita pinahihintulutan; hindi ka dapat umalis mula rito patungong gubat.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): ‘as/just as’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis): ‘indeed/only’

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पूज्यः: worthy of honor
• पूज्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त; √pūj पूज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण, तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थः ‘worthy to be honored’

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• गौरवेण: with reverence
• गौरवेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘so/in the same way’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुजानामि: permit
• अनुजानामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā ज्ञा (धातु) + anu- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘permit/allow’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• गन्तव्यम्: should be gone / must go
• गन्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/तव्य) ‘to be gone/should go’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोग-सामर्थ्य

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from here’

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Just as the king is worthy of your respectful homage, so am I. I will not permit you to go from here to the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (implied as rājā)
• Vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is argued through legitimate authority within the family: the mother claims a moral standing comparable to the father-king in receiving honor and obedience.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā attempts to forbid Rāma’s departure by asserting her right to be obeyed and by withholding consent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence (gaurava) toward parents and adherence to household hierarchy (maryādā).