Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 16

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।दिधक्षन्निव तां सेनां रुषितः पावको यथा।।2.96.16।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇo vākyam abravīt |

didhakṣann iva tāṃ senāṃ ruṣitaḥ pāvako yathā ||2.96.16||

Translation

So von Rāma angesprochen, erwiderte Lakṣmaṇa — zornig wie Feuer, als wolle er jenes Heer verbrennen.

Word by Word

• evam: thus, in this manner
• evam: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

• uktaḥ: having been addressed/said (to)
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (logical subject of passive: lakṣmaṇaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त/क्तप्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense ‘having been spoken/said’

• tu: but, then
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/conjunction (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Kartr̥-kāraka (कर्ता/करण-भावे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent in passive construction

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vākyam: words, a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abravīt: said, spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• didhakṣan: as if wishing to burn
• didhakṣan: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifying lakṣmaṇaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (दह् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; desiderative stem (दिधक्ष-) ‘wishing to burn’

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamā-bodhaka (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile particle (उपमा-वाचक निपात)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म) (determiner of senām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• senām: army
• senām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ruṣitaḥ: wrathful
• ruṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifying lakṣmaṇaḥ / pāvakaḥ in simile)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruṣ (रुष् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘angered’

• pāvakaḥ: fire
• pāvakaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Upamā-bodhaka (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative/simile marker (यथा-शब्द)

Context

It is evident that Kaikeyi's son Bharata, who has been consecrated, is coming to slayboth of us desiring the prosperous kingdom (to be without obstacles).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Army (senā)
• Pāvaka (fire)

FAQs

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

The verse frames a moral tension: righteous protection can ignite anger, but dharma ultimately requires that such fury be guided by discernment and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks for identification; Lakṣmaṇa, already alarmed by the army, responds with intense anger and suspicion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s fierce loyalty—though it also highlights the need to temper passion.