Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 23

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons

Spoken by Lakṣmaṇa to RamaSetting: Ayodhya outskirts / departure route (implied)Setting out toward the forest; Lakshmana proposes to go in front as pathfinder

Devanagari script

धनुरादाय सशरं खनित्रपिटकाधरः ।

अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि पन्थानमनुदर्शयन् ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.31.23

Transliteration

dhanur ādāya saśaraṃ khanitrapiṭakādharaḥ |

agratas te gamiṣyāmi panthānam anudarśayan ||23||

Translation

मैं धनुष उठाऊँगा, तीर भी साथ रखूँगा। फावड़ा और टोकरी भी उठा के चलूँगा। मैं तुमसे आगे चलूँगा और रास्ता दिखाऊँगा।

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Word by Word

• dhanuḥ: bow
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ādāya: having taken
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), अर्थः: गृहीत्वा (having taken)
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• saśaram: with arrows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (sa = सह/युक्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; धनुः-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• khanitrapiṭakādharaḥ: bearing a spade/crowbar and a basket
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khanitra + piṭaka + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: खनित्रं च पिटकं च धारयति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• agrataḥ: in front
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in front)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• te: of you/your
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (in front of you)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• gamiṣyāmi: I will go
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• panthānam: the path
• Type: Noun
• Root: panthan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• anudarśayan: showing/pointing out
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-dṛś (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• dhanuḥ+ādāya→dhanur ādāya
• panthānam+anudarśayan→panthānam anudarśayan

Context

Holding the bow and arrows and carrying a crowbar and a basket, I shall go in front of you leading the way.

The teaching

True support is concrete: protect, prepare, and lead the way for the one bearing the vow.

Ethical theme

Sevā / kṣātra-dharma

How it resolves

Service-through-action

Devotion and practice

Models disciplined preparedness—combining inner devotion with practical responsibility.

Deity praised

Rama (implied)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Prepared, protective, forward-leading

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Seva
• Protection
• Forest-life

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Bow (dhanuḥ)
• Arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Active service and protection: dharma is not only intention but practical readiness—Lakṣmaṇa offers leadership in hardship and defense in danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa describes the concrete duties he will perform in exile—carrying tools and weapons and guiding the route.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and guardianship—he assumes responsibility for safety and logistics.