Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 4
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
अग्रतो लक्ष्मणो यातः पालयन्रघुनन्दनम् ।
तांस्तथा गच्छतो दृष्ट्वा निवृत्तोऽस्म्यवशस्तदा ॥४॥
agrato lakṣmaṇo yātaḥ pālayan raghunandanam |
tāṁs tathā gacchato dṛṣṭvā nivṛtto 'smy avaśas tadā ||4||
लक्ष्मण आगे चल रहा था, राम को संभाल के। राम रघु कुल का प्यारा था। मैं उनको जाते हुए देखता रहा। फिर मैं वापस मुड़ गया, क्या कर सकता था, हाथ से निकल गए।
Lakshmana walked ahead guarding Rama, the delight of the Raghus. While I returned helplessly seeing them go.
FAQs
The verse highlights dharma as protective duty and loyal service: Lakṣmaṇa fulfills his obligation to safeguard Rāma, while the speaker acknowledges the painful necessity of returning despite personal grief.
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are departing toward the forest for exile; Sumantra watches them go and then returns to Ayodhyā, unable to alter the decision.
Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance and devotion (sevā-bhāva) are emphasized—he goes ahead as a guardian, embodying steadfast fraternal loyalty.
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