Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 1: Daśaratha Desires to Appoint Rāma as the Crown PrinceText 2.1.10
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 1: Daśaratha Desires to Appoint Rāma as the Crown Prince
Text 2.1.10
स तु नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं च भाषते।
उच्यमानोऽपि परुषं नोत्तरः प्रतिपद्यते॥
sa tu nityaṁ praśāntātmā mṛdu-pūrvaṁ ca bhāṣate
ucyamāno ’pi paruṣaṁ nottaraṁ pratipadyate
saḥ = Rāma; tu = on the other hand; nityam = because He was always; praśānta-ātmā = peaceful in mind; mṛdu-pūrvam ca = gently; bhāṣate = He would respond; ucyamānaḥ = when was addressed; api = even; paruṣam = in harsh words; na = never; uttaram pratipadyate = He would never argue back.
On the other hand, even when Rāma was addressed in harsh words, He would never argue back. He would respond gently because He was always peaceful in mind.
The author now states that Rāmacandra was superior to Daśaratha. Api (“even”) indicates that there was no question of Lord Rāma’s arguing back when He was addressed in harsh words. He was always peaceful in mind, that is, free from anger. He not only refrained from harshly responding back to one who spoke to Him harshly, He responded with mild words of conciliation.