Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 5
लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः
Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons
न देवलोकाक्रमणं नामरत्वमहं वृणे।ऐश्वर्यं वापि लोकानां कामये न त्वया विना।।।।
na devalokākramaṇaṃ nāmaratvam ahaṃ vṛṇe | aiśvaryaṃ vāpi lokānāṃ kāmaye na tvayā vinā ||
നിനക്കില്ലാതെ ഞാൻ ദേവലോകവിജയവും അമരത്വവും തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുകയില്ല; നിനക്കില്ലാതെ ലോകങ്ങളുടെ അധിപത്യമായ ഐശ്വര്യവും എനിക്കു വേണ്ട.
Without you, I do not want victory over the gods or sovereignty over the worlds or even immortality.
FAQs
Dharma is prioritized relationship-bound duty over personal gain: Lakshmaṇa rejects even divine rewards if they separate him from serving Rāma.
Lakshmaṇa responds to attempts to dissuade him, declaring that no reward—cosmic or divine—matters without Rāma.
Renunciation of self-interest (niṣkāma-sevā): he values righteous companionship above power, fame, or immortality.