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

Maging ang pantas na si Kandu—marunong, batid ang dharma at namumuhay sa mahigpit na panata—ay pumatay ng isang baka, upang tuparin lamang ang salita ng kanyang ama.

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.