Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.34: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 34

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

वसन्तीह दृढं भक्त्या गुरुषु द्विजसत्तमाः।तेषामपि च मे भूयस्सर्वेषाञ्चोपजीविनाम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.31.34

Transliteration

vasantīha dṛḍhaṃ bhaktyā guruṣu dvijasattamāḥ | teṣām api ca me bhūyaḥ sarveṣāṃ copajīvinām ||

Translation

هنا يقيم خيرةُ البراهمة، ثابتين في إخلاصهم لمعلّميهم؛ وكذلك كثيرون غيرهم ممن يعتمدون عليّ في معاشهم.

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Word by Word

• वसन्ति: live
• वसन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: वस् (to dwell/live)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); 'here'

• दृढम्: steadfastly
• दृढम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); 'firmly/steadfastly'

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; 'with devotion'

• गुरुषु: among the teachers
• गुरुषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचन; 'among/with the teachers'

• द्विजसत्तमाः: best of brahmins
• द्विजसत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: द्विजानां सत्तमाः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; subject

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; 'of them/for them'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); 'also/even'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction); 'and'

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी एकवचन; 'my/of me'

• भूयः: further
• भूयः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle); 'more/further/also'

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; 'of all'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction); links to previous genitive

• उपजीविनाम्: of dependents
• उपजीविनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; 'of dependents/retainers'

Context

Here live the best of brahmins who are deeply devoted to their teachers along with those who are dependent on me for their livelihood.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• dvijas (brahmins)
• gurus (teachers)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsibility toward spiritual communities and dependents—truthfully recognizing social obligations before withdrawing into exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains why he must distribute wealth: many brahmins and dependents rely on his support.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s conscientiousness—he does not abandon obligations even when personally wronged.