Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 28

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

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

Devanagari script

ये च राज्ञो ददौ दिव्ये महात्मा वरुण स्स्वयम्।जनकस्य महायज्ञे धनुषी रौद्रदर्शने।।2.31.27।।अभेद्यकवचे दिव्ये तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ।आदित्यविमलौ चोभौ खड्गौ हेमपरिष्कृतौ।।2.31.28।।सत्कृत्य निहितं सर्वमेतदाचार्यसद्मनि।सर्वमायुधमादाय क्षिप्रमाव्रज लक्ष्मण।।2.31.29।।

Transliteration

abhedyakavace divye tūṇī cākṣayasāyakau | ādityavimalau cobhau khaḍgau hemapariṣkṛtau ||

Translation

——貫くことのできぬ二領の神鎧、尽きることなき矢を収めた二つの箙、そして黄金で飾られ、太陽のごとく清らかに輝く二振りの剣。

Word by Word

• अभेद्यकवचे: two impenetrable armours
• अभेद्यकवचे: Karma (object, appositional item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभेद्य + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. dual, neuter); कर्मधारयः—अभेद्यं कवचं यस्य/यत्

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Visheshana (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. dual, neuter); विशेषणम् (qualifying अभेद्यकवचे)

• तूणी: two quivers
• तूणी: Karma (object, appositional item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. dual, feminine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: 'and')

• अक्षयसायकौ: two sets of inexhaustible arrows
• अक्षयसायकौ: Karma (object, appositional item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय + सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. dual, masculine); कर्मधारयः—अक्षयाः सायकाः (inexhaustible arrows)

• आदित्यविमलौ: sun-bright, radiant like the sun
• आदित्यविमलौ: Visheshana (qualifier of subject/object in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदित्य + विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom. dual, masculine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आदित्यस्य इव विमलौ/आदित्यवत् विमलौ) — उपमान-विशेषणम् (simile-like qualifier of खड्गौ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: 'and')

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom. dual, masculine); सर्वनाम-विशेषणम् (both; qualifying खड्गौ)

• खड्गौ: two swords
• खड्गौ: Karma (object, appositional item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom./Acc. dual, masculine)

• हेमपरिष्कृतौ: adorned/plated with gold
• हेमपरिष्कृतौ: Visheshana (qualifier of खड्गौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + परिष्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + परि-उपसर्ग, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः द्विवचनम् (Nom. dual, masculine); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः—हेमेन परिष्कृतौ (adorned/finished with gold); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम्

Context

O Lakshmana in the great sacrifice performed by the highsouled Janaka, Varuna himself gave him two aweinspiring celestial bows, two impenetrable divine armours, two quivers with inexhaustible arrows, two swords plated with gold and as bright as the sun. All these weapons are deposited in the house of our preceptor (sage Vasistha) where they are being worshipped. Go and bring them swiftly.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kavaca (armour)
• sāyaka (arrows)
• khaḍga (swords)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent readiness to protect the innocent: weapons are not glorified for violence, but recognized as instruments to uphold righteousness when danger arises.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma enumerates the sacred armaments associated with their lineage and prior yajña context, indicating what must be retrieved for the journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible restraint—acknowledging power while treating it as consecrated, regulated, and purpose-bound.