Valmiki Ramayana 2.21.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 20

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

भ्रातुस्ते वदतः पुत्र लक्ष्मणस्य श्रुतं त्वया।यदत्रानन्तरं कार्यं कुरुष्व यदि रोचते।।2.21.20।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.21.20

Transliteration

bhrātus te vadataḥ putra lakṣmaṇasya śrutaṃ tvayā |

yad atrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ kuruṣva yadi rocate ||2.21.20||

Translation

我的儿子啊，你已经听到了你弟弟罗什曼那所说的话。如果你愿意，就按照你的判断去做接下来该做的事吧。

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Word by Word

• bhrātuḥ: of (your) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• te: your
• te: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana (enclitic)

• vadataḥ: while speaking/of the one speaking
• vadataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (शतृ) present active participle; Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; agrees with bhrātuḥ (genitive absolute-like qualifier)

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• lakṣmaṇasya: of Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• śrutam: has been heard
• śrutam: Kriyā (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śruta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śru धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; impersonal passive sense ‘has been heard’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता; in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• yat: what
• yat: Sambandha (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun introducing clause

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya adverb ‘here/in this matter’

• anantaram: next/thereafter
• anantaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb) ‘next/thereafter’

• kāryam: what should be done
• kāryam: Karma (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; gerundive (णीयत्/यत् sense) ‘to be done’

• kuruṣva: do (it)
• kuruṣva: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada (कुरुष्व)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle ‘if’

• rocate: is pleasing
• rocate: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada; impersonal ‘it pleases’

Context

O my son! you have heard what your brother Lakshmana said and if it pleases you, do later what is to be done.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

It underscores deliberation and agency: after hearing counsel, one must choose the next action responsibly, aligning with dharma rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā turns to Rāma after Lakṣmaṇa’s speech, acknowledging he has heard it and inviting him to decide the appropriate next step.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kauśalyā’s restraint and practical wisdom—she channels grief into a measured appeal for right action.