Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 30

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

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

Devanagari script

स सुहृज्जनमामन्त्र्यवनवासाय निश्चितः।इक्ष्वाकुगुरुमागम्य जग्राहायुधमुत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa suhṛjjanam āmantrya vanavāsāya niścitaḥ | ikṣvākugurum āgamya jagrāha āyudham uttamam ||

Translation

森に住まうことを固く定めたラクシュマナは友に別れを告げ、ついでイクシュヴァーク族の師のもとに赴き、最上の武器を受け取った。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; 'he'

• सुहृत्-जनम्: friends
• सुहृत्-जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सुहृत् एव जनः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (collective); 'friends/kinsmen'

• आमन्त्र्य: having taken leave of
• आमन्त्र्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: मन्त्र् (to consult/invite) with उपसर्ग आ-; 'having taken leave/invited'

• वनवासाय: for living in the forest
• वनवासाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (locative/goal sense): वने वासः; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; 'for forest-dwelling'

• निश्चितः: determined
• निश्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + चि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; 'determined/decided' (qualifies सः)

• इक्ष्वाकु-गुरुम्: the Ikshvaku preceptor
• इक्ष्वाकु-गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: इक्ष्वाकूणां गुरुम्; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; 'preceptor of the Ikshvakus'

• आगम्य: having reached
• आगम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), धातु: गम् (to go) with उपसर्ग आ-; 'having reached'

• जग्राह: took
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: ग्रह् (to take); 'took/received'

• आयुधम्: weapons
• आयुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of जग्राह

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण of आयुधम्; 'excellent'

Context

Lakshmana, who was resolved to go to the forest, took leave of his friends, and collected from the house of Vasistha, preceptor of the Ikshvaku race, the powerful weapons deposited with him.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• friends (suhṛj-jana)
• āyudha (weapons)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined commitment: once a righteous course is chosen, one prepares properly and respectfully—taking leave, approaching elders, and acting in order.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa acts on Rāma’s instruction, formally departing from companions and obtaining the stored weapons from the family preceptor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s prompt obedience and steadiness in service.