Shloka 17
शरबन्धनविलापः
The Lament under the Net of Arrows
यथैवमांवनंयान्तमनुयातोमहाद्युतिः ।अहमप्यनुयास्यामितथैवैनंयमक्ष्यम् ।।6.49.17।।
yathaiva māṃ vanaṃ yāntam anuyāto mahādyutiḥ |
aham apy anuyāsyāmi tathaivainaṃ yamakṣayam || 6.49.17 ||
So wie jener Strahlende mir folgte, als ich in den Wald ging, so werde auch ich ihm nun folgen – auf demselben Pfad in Yamas Reich.
"This Lakshmana glowing in brightness, travelled with me following me in the forest. In the same way I shall follow him to the abode of death."
FAQs
Dharma here is framed as unwavering reciprocity in loyalty: Rāma feels bound to match Lakṣmaṇa’s selfless following with his own—though the verse expresses grief-driven resolve rather than prescribed conduct.
Rāma, convinced Lakṣmaṇa has died, declares he will follow him to death, recalling their forest exile companionship.
Devotion and solidarity between brothers: Lakṣmaṇa’s earlier loyalty becomes the measure of Rāma’s response.