Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 15
लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः
Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons
तामार्यां स्वयमेवेह राजानुग्रहणेन वा।सौमित्रे भर कौशल्यामुक्तमर्थमिमं चर।।।।
tām āryāṃ svayam eveha rājānugrahaṇena vā |
saumitre bhara kauśalyām uktam artham imaṃ cara || 2.31.15 ||
সেয়ে, হে সৌমিত্ৰে, তুমি ইয়াতেই থাকি সেই আৰ্যা কৌসল্যাক সহায় দিয়া; নিজ প্ৰচেষ্টাৰে হওক বা ৰজাৰ অনুগ্ৰহ লাভ কৰি হওক—মই কোৱা এই উদ্দেশ্য সম্পন্ন কৰা।
Either by yourself or by seeking the favour of the king, O son of Sumitra, lend support to venerable Kausalya. This is the objective you must accomplish.
FAQs
Dharma is active caregiving: righteousness is fulfilled by ensuring elders are protected and sustained, even when one’s own life is disrupted by exile and political upheaval.
Rāma assigns Lakṣmaṇa a counter-duty: instead of accompanying him, Lakṣmaṇa should remain to protect and support Kausalyā in the palace.
Rāma’s leadership through dharmic delegation—he defines duty as concrete service, not mere sentiment.