Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 9

तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: en route from Ayodhyā toward the forest (implied)Early exile journey with companions

Devanagari script

त्वया कार्यं नरव्याघ्र मामनुव्रजता कृतम् ।

अन्वेष्टव्या हि वैदेह्या रक्षणार्थे सहायता ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.9

Transliteration

tvayā kāryaṃ naravyāghra mān anuvrajatā kṛtam |

anvēṣṭavyā hi vaidehyā rakṣaṇārthe sahāyatā ||9||

Translation

ഹേ നരവ്യാഘ്രാ! നീ എന്നെ അനുഗമിച്ച് വന്നത് മഹത്തായ കര്‍ത്തവ്യം തന്നെയാണ്; അല്ലായിരുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ വൈദേഹിയുടെ രക്ഷയ്ക്കായി സഹായം തീർച്ചയായും അന്വേഷിക്കേണ്ടിവരുമായിരുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Karana (करण/instrument, agent-instrument)

• कार्यम्: a duty/deed
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्य-प्रत्यय/‘to be done’ sense, here noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object; ‘a deed’)

• नरव्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (naraṇāṃ vyāghraḥ)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• माम्: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• अनुव्रजता: (by you) accompanying
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘while accompanying’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/agent of accompanying; qualifies ‘you’)

• कृतम्: done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘done’ (agrees with कार्यम्)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate via participle)

• अन्वेष्टव्या: must be sought
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + इष्/एष् (धातु; √इष्/एष् ‘to seek’)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्; gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be sought’ (agrees with वैदेह्या)
• Role: Karya (कार्य/obligation)

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)

• वैदेह्या: Vaidehi (Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म; object to be sought)

• रक्षणार्थे: for protection
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/उद्देश्य (rakṣaṇāya arthaḥ) = ‘for the purpose of protection’
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सहायता: help/assistance
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहायता (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; ‘assistance’ as required)

Sandhi Notes

• माम् + अनुव्रजता → मामनुव्रजता (अनुस्वार/सन्धि)

Context

You, O Lakshmana, the best among men, have done a good job by accompanying me. Otherwise assistance for Sita's protection would have been sought (necessary).

The teaching

True kinship expresses itself as steadfast assistance in hardship, especially in safeguarding the vulnerable.

Ethical theme

Kuladharma / rakṣa-dharma

How it resolves

Affirmation of supportive duty (sevā and protection)

For your practice

Model for sevā-bhāva: accompany the righteous, protect those entrusted to you, and act without hesitation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Grateful, protective, purposeful

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Protection
• Fraternal duty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Vaidehi (Sita)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective responsibility: ensuring the safety of the vulnerable (Sītā) and fulfilling one’s duty through timely support (Lakṣmaṇa’s accompaniment).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama acknowledges that Lakshmana’s decision to accompany him is crucial, because it directly strengthens Sita’s protection during their uncertain journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s steadfast loyalty and service (sevā-bhāva), expressed as practical, duty-driven companionship.