HomeRamayanaAyodhya KandaSarga 56Shloka 2.56.23
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Shloka 2.56.23

चित्रकूटगमनम् तथा पर्णशालाप्रवेशः (Arrival at Chitrakuta and Establishing the Leaf-Hut)

मृगं हत्वाऽऽनय क्षिप्रं लक्ष्मणेह शुभेक्षण।कर्तव्य श्शास्त्रदृष्टो हि विधिर्धर्ममनुस्मर।।।।

mṛgaṃ hatvā ānaya kṣipraṃ lakṣmaṇeha śubhekṣaṇa | kartavyaḥ śāstradṛṣṭo hi vidhir dharmam anusmara ||

O Lakṣmaṇa of auspicious gaze, kill an antelope and bring it here quickly; the rite taught by the śāstras must be performed—remember the path of dharma.

Slay an antelope and bring it here quickly. O Lakshmana! The rites as prescribed by the scriptures will have to be carried out. You may recollect that tradition.

R
Rāma
L
Lakṣmaṇa
M
mṛga (antelope)
Ś
śāstra
D
dharma

Dharma is framed as fidelity to rightful procedure: when a duty is scripturally prescribed, one completes it with attentiveness and without delay.

Rāma directs Lakṣmaṇa to procure a deer promptly so that the prescribed rite connected with their dwelling can be carried out.

Lakṣmaṇa’s obedience-in-dharma is invoked, while Rāma’s leadership is shown as grounded in remembered tradition.