Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 35

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Lakṣmaṇa’s militant counsel and Rāma’s dharma

based persuasion of Kausalyā

Spoken by Rama to KausalyaSetting: Ayodhya palace (dialogue setting)Ethical resolution before exile

Devanagari script

नाहं धर्ममपूर्वं ते प्रतिकूलं प्रवर्तये ।

पूर्वैरयमभिप्रेतो गतो मार्गोऽनुगम्यते ॥३५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.35

Transliteration

nāhaṃ dharmam apūrvaṃ te pratikūlaṃ pravartaye |

pūrvair ayam abhipreto gato mārgo ’nugamyate ||35||

Translation

میں تمہارے لیے کوئی نیا دھرم، جو قائم شدہ رواج کے خلاف ہو، پیش نہیں کرتا؛ ہمارے اسلاف نے جس راہ کو پسند کیا اور جس پر چلے، اسی راہ کی پیروی کی جاتی ہے۔

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Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• dharmam: dharma/practice
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• apūrvam: new/unprecedented
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं धर्मम् प्रति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• te: for you/to you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• pratikūlam: contrary (to tradition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratikūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणं धर्मम् प्रति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• pravartaye: I introduce/advance
• Type: Verb
• Root: pravṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense 'set in motion/introduce'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• pūrvaiḥ: by the ancestors
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; 'by the ancients'
• Role: Karana (करण)

• ayam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• abhipretaḥ: approved
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi+prī (धातु)
• Form: अभिप्रेत (क्त) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'approved/accepted' (qualifying mārgaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• gataḥ: trodden
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: गत (क्त) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'gone/trodden' (qualifying mārgaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mārgaḥ: path
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• anugamyate: is being followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is followed'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• नाहम् = na + aham
• धर्ममपूर्वम् = dharmam + apūrvam
• पूर्वैरयम् = pūrvaiḥ + ayam
• मार्गोऽनुगम्यते = mārgaḥ + anugamyate (visarga sandhi)

Context

I am not advancing anything new, contrary to the existing practice. I am only following the trodden path of our ancestors.

The teaching

True dharma is not whimsical novelty; it is the tested path of the righteous—walked, approved, and therefore trustworthy.

Duties in tension

• Innovation/personal reasoning vs adherence to established dharma
• Self-interest vs ancestral maryādā

Ethical theme

Normative ethics grounded in tradition (maryādā/sadācāra)

How it resolves

Appeal to established path (pūrvācāra) as final justification

For your practice

Supports maryādā-oriented bhakti: following Rāma’s model of steady dharma; suitable for daily reflection on consistency and integrity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Settled, authoritative, traditional

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Tradition
• Ethics
• Social order

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a tested, inherited path (mārga) validated by the conduct of the righteous ancestors, rather than a novelty driven by emotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama argues that his decision is aligned with established royal-ethical norms, countering his mother’s grief-driven resistance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for maryādā (normative righteousness) and steadiness in principled conduct.