Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 32

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

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

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Ayodhya (Rama's residence)Pre-departure preparations for exile

Devanagari script

तमुवाचात्मवान् रामः प्रीत्या लक्ष्मणमागतम् ।

काले त्वमागत सौम्य काङ्क्षिते मम लक्ष्मण ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.31.32

Transliteration

tam uvāca ātmavān rāmaḥ prītyā lakṣmaṇam āgatam |

kāle tvam āgata saumya kāṅkṣite mama lakṣmaṇa ||32||

Translation

Der selbstbeherrschte Rāma sprach liebevoll zu dem herbeigekommenen Lakṣmaṇa: „O Sanfter, du bist zur ersehnten Zeit gekommen, mein Lakṣmaṇa.“

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; 'him' (Lakshmana)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: वच् (to speak); 'said'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण of रामः; 'self-possessed'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; subject
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; instrumental adverbial 'with affection'
• Role: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of उवाच (addressed)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आगतम्: arrived
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Active Participle, क्तवत्/क्त in sense), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; 'arrived' qualifying लक्ष्मणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• काले: at the time
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; 'at the time'
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा एकवचन; 'you'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• आगतः: have come
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Active Participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; 'have come' (with implied असि)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; term of address 'O gentle one'
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• काङ्क्षिते: desired
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काङ्क्षित (काङ्क्ष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; agrees with काले; 'desired'
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

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

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन; address
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

Sandhi Notes

• तमुवाच = तम् + उवाच
• उवाचात्मवान् = उवाच + आत्मवान्
• लक्ष्मणमागतम् = लक्ष्मणम् + आगतम्
• त्वमागत = त्वम् + आगतः
• काङ्क्षिते मम = काङ्क्षिते + मम

Context

O handsome Lakshmana, you have come at the expected time, said the self-possessed Rama affectionately when he saw him arrive.

The teaching

Even in upheaval, steadiness and affectionate speech strengthen dharma-driven action.

Duties in tension

• Kṣatriya duty to uphold royal order vs personal desire for familial closeness
• Duty to accept exile with equanimity vs emotional bonds

Ethical theme

Svadharma; relational ethics

How it resolves

Acceptance through affectionate coordination

For your practice

Cultivates sāttvika speech and gratitude toward supportive companions on the path of renunciation and duty.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tender, relieved, intimate

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Affection with restraint
• Leadership
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes measured speech and gratitude—Rāma acknowledges service warmly without losing self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa returns with the weapons; Rāma receives him with affectionate approval.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s composure (ātmavat) and appreciative, dhārmic leadership.