Shloka 2.86.15

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम् — Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

कौसल्या चैव राजा च तथैव जननी मम।नाशंसे यदि जीवेयुस्सर्वे ते शर्वरीमिमाम्।।।।

Transliteration

kausalyā caiva rājā ca tathaiva jananī mama | nāśaṃse yadi jīveyuḥ sarve te śarvarīm imām ||

Translation

I do not think the king, Kausalyā, and likewise my own mother—and the rest—will survive this night.

Context

I doubt whether the king, Kausalya and my mother Sumitra and the rest of them will outlive this night.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā
• Sumitrā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Guha

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes the weight of relational bonds: Lakṣmaṇa’s fear shows how a ruler’s decisions echo through family and society, making ethical governance crucial.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa, overwhelmed, expresses to Guha his dread that the elders in Ayodhyā may not endure the immediate shock of separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial concern—Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty extends beyond Rāma to the well-being of parents and elders.