Shloka 6

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणश्चापि रामस्य पादौ परिचरन्वने।आराधयति धर्मज्ञः परलोकं जितेन्द्रियः।।।।

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇaś cāpi rāmasya pādau paricaran vane |

ārādhayati dharmajñaḥ paralokaṃ jitendriyaḥ ||

Translation

Und auch Lakshmana — selbstbeherrscht und des Dharma kundig — dient im Wald zu Ramas Füßen und erwirbt so geistiges Verdienst für das Jenseits.

Word by Word

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• pādau: (his) two feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumlinga, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन)

• paricaran: serving
• paricaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + car (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ) → paricarat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Pumlinga, Nominative singular; attendant action

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative, Singular

• ārādhayati: attains/propitiates
• ārādhayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharmajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: dharmaṃ jānāti; Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular; adjective of lakṣmaṇaḥ

• paralokam: the other world
• paralokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para-loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: paraḥ lokaḥ; Pumlinga, Accusative, Singular

• jitendriyaḥ: one who has conquered his senses
• jitendriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (ji धातु + क्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: jitāni indriyāṇi yasya; Pumlinga, Nominative, Singular; adjective of lakṣmaṇaḥ

Context

They are upholding the sacred promise of their father with cheerful hearts, grief given the goby, steadfastly pursuing the path established by maharsis, subsisting on forest fruits and enjoying the forest life.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as devoted service: Lakshmana’s attendance on Rama is righteous conduct rooted in self-restraint and loyalty, portrayed as spiritually elevating.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra continues consoling Kausalya by emphasizing Lakshmana’s disciplined service to Rama during the exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s self-control and brotherly devotion—service performed without self-interest.