Shloka 2.31.3

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः (Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons)

Devanagari script

यदि गन्तुं कृताबुद्धिर्वनं मृगगजायुतम्।अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि वनमग्रे धनुर्धरः।।।।

Transliteration

satkṛtya nihitaṃ sarvam etad ācāryasadmani | sarvam āyudham ādāya kṣipram āvraja lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

All this has been reverently kept in our preceptor’s residence. Gather up the whole armoury and return swiftly, O Lakṣmaṇa.

Context

If you have decided to go to the forest where deer and elephants abound, I shall also accompany you by walking before you, holding the bow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• ācārya (preceptor)
• Vasiṣṭha (implied by context as the family preceptor)
• āyudha (weapons)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reverence and right custody: sacred objects are stored with honour in the guru’s house, reflecting that power must be governed by discipline and tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to fetch the consecrated weapons stored at the preceptor’s residence, as part of imminent departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s adherence to maryādā—respect for the teacher’s sanctified space and orderly preparation for duty.