Shloka 19

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

स भ्राता लक्ष्मणो नाम धर्मचारी दृढव्रतः।।3.47.19।।अन्वगच्छद्दनुष्पाणिः प्रव्रजन्तं मया सह।

Transliteration

sa bhrātā lakṣmaṇo nāma dharmacārī dṛḍhavrataḥ ||3.47.19|| anvagacchad dhanuṣpāṇiḥ pravrajantaṃ mayā saha |

Translation

ആ സഹോദരൻ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ എന്നവൻ—ധർമ്മാചാരി, ദൃഢവ്രതൻ—വില്ല് കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച്, എന്നോടൊപ്പം, പ്രവ്രജിതനായ രാമനെ അനുഗമിച്ചു.

Word by Word

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

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (apposition to भ्राता)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable usage: ‘by name’)

• धर्मचारी: practising righteousness
• धर्मचारी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दृढव्रतः: firm-vowed, steadfast
• दृढव्रतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अन्वगच्छत्: followed
• अन्वगच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धनुष्पाणिः: having a bow in hand
• धनुष्पाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanuṣ-pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (धनुः पाणौ यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of लक्ष्मणः)

• प्रव्रजन्तम्: the one going forth (into exile)
• प्रव्रजन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vraj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object of अन्वगच्छत्)

• मया: with me
• मया: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (instrumental/सह), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition meaning ‘with’)

Context

'He is a brahmin and also a guest. If unanswered he may curse me'. Thinking this Sita thought for a moment and said:

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma as faithful accompaniment: Lakṣmaṇa embodies duty by choosing service and protection over comfort, aligning action with righteous commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā narrates that when Rāma went to the forest in exile, Lakṣmaṇa followed, armed and resolute, accompanying both Rāma and Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfastness (dṛḍha-vrata) and dharmic conduct (dharma-cārī) expressed through loyal service.