Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 2
लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः
Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons
एवं शृत्वा तु संवादं लक्ष्मणः पूर्वमागतः।बाष्पपर्याकुलमुखः शोकं सोढुमशक्नुवन्।।2.31.1।।स भ्रातुश्चरणौ गाढं निपीड्य रघुनन्दनः।सीतामुवाचातियशां राघवं च महाव्रतम्।।2.31.2।।
evaṃ śrutvā tu saṃvādaṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ pūrvam āgataḥ |
bāṣpa-paryākula-mukhaḥ śokaṃ soḍhum aśaknuvan ||
sa bhrātuś caraṇau gāḍhaṃ nipīḍya raghunandanaḥ |
sītām uvāca atiyaśāṃ rāghavaṃ ca mahāvratam ||
Ayant entendu cet entretien, Lakṣmaṇa —arrivé auparavant— demeura le visage bouleversé de larmes, incapable de soutenir la peine. Pressant étroitement les pieds de son frère, la joie de la lignée de Raghu s’adressa à l’illustre Sītā et à Rāghava, inébranlable dans son grand vœu.
Lakshmana who had already reached there heard the conversation (between Sita and Rama). His eyes brimming with tears, he was unable to bear the grief. He held the feet of his brother tightly and said to the illustrious Sita and Rama of great resolve:
FAQs
The verse foregrounds dharma as reverence and loyalty within family bonds: Lakṣmaṇa’s bodily gesture (clasping the feet) shows submission to rightful elder authority and unwavering fraternal duty.
Lakṣmaṇa arrives after hearing Rāma and Sītā’s discussion about exile; overcome with emotion, he approaches them and prepares to speak.
Lakṣmaṇa’s bhakti and śaurya tempered by humility—devotion expressed through respect, grief, and readiness to serve.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.