Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 10

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

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

Devanagari script

स्निग्धो धर्मरतो वीरस्सततं सत्पथे स्थितः।प्रियः प्राणसमो वश्यो भ्राता चापि सखा च मे।।।।

Transliteration

snigdho dharmarato vīraḥ satataṃ satpathe sthitaḥ |

priyaḥ prāṇasamo vaśyo bhrātā cāpi sakhā ca me || 2.31.10 ||

Translation

Zärtlich, dem Dharma ergeben und heldenhaft, stets auf dem rechten Pfad gegründet—du bist mir lieb wie das eigene Leben: gehorsam als Bruder und zugleich Gefährte als Freund.

Word by Word

• snigdhaḥ: affectionate
• snigdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied saḥ/lakṣmaṇaḥ)

• dharmarataḥ: devoted to dharma
• dharmarataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (dharme rataḥ)

• vīraḥ: hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satatam: always
• satatam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• satpathe: on the good path
• satpathe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative, 7th case), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (sat + patha)

• sthitaḥ: abiding/standing
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• priyaḥ: dear
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• prāṇa-samaḥ: equal to my life
• prāṇa-samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇa + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (prāṇaiḥ samaḥ / prāṇa-iva)

• vaśyaḥ: obedient/amenable
• vaśyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (emphasis/addition)

• sakhā: friend
• sakhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction

• me: of me/to me (my)
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (genitive, 6th case), एकवचन

Context

You are affectionate, you are devoted to dharma. You are valiant. You always walk the path of virtue. You are dear to me like my own life. You are not only an obedient brother but also a friend.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as steady conduct (‘satpathe sthitaḥ’) and affectionate duty: virtue is not merely belief but consistent, loving alignment with the righteous path.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid decisions about exile and who should accompany whom, Rāma affirms Lakṣmaṇa’s character and closeness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfast righteousness and loyal obedience, coupled with intimate friendship toward Rāma.