Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 18

चित्रकूटगमनम् तथा पर्णशालाप्रवेशः

Arrival at Chitrakuta and Establishing the Leaf-Hut

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।सन्निवेद्य यथान्याय मात्मानमृषये प्रभुः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.56.18

Transliteration

tato ’bravīn mahābāhur lakṣmaṇaṁ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ | sannivedya yathānyāyam ātmānam ṛṣaye prabhuḥ ||

Translation

ثم إن ذا الساعدين العظيمين، الأخ الأكبر للاكشمانا، بعدما عرّف بنفسه للريشي على الوجه اللائق، خاطب لاكشمانا.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरबोधक (then)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक); महा+बाहु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य’

• लक्ष्मणम्: to Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणाग्रजः: elder brother of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणाग्रजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण-अग्रज (प्रातिपदिक); लक्ष्मण+अग्रज
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘लक्ष्मणस्य अग्रजः’

• सन्निवेद्य: having introduced
• सन्निवेद्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); अव्ययभाव; ‘having introduced/presented’

• यथान्यायम्: duly
• यथान्यायम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-अन्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय; ‘यथान्यायम्’ = according to rule/duly

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; स्ववाचक

• ऋषये: to the sage
• ऋषये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

Context

O handsome Lakshmana, make a hut with strong, sound logs of wood. My mind impels me to stay here.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Valmiki (sage/ṛṣi)

FAQs

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

Dharma as propriety (nyāya/maryādā): one should approach holy persons transparently and respectfully, introducing oneself in the proper manner.

What is the narrative situation?

After greeting Valmiki, Rama formally identifies himself to the sage and then turns to instruct Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s civility and accountability—he follows correct protocol even while in exile.