Shloka 17
शरबन्धनविलापः
The Lament under the Net of Arrows
यथैवमांवनंयान्तमनुयातोमहाद्युतिः ।अहमप्यनुयास्यामितथैवैनंयमक्ष्यम् ।।6.49.17।।
yathaiva māṃ vanaṃ yāntam anuyāto mahādyutiḥ |
aham apy anuyāsyāmi tathaivainaṃ yamakṣayam || 6.49.17 ||
ഞാൻ വനത്തിലേക്കു പോയപ്പോൾ മഹാദ്യുതിയനായ അവൻ എങ്ങനെ എന്നെ അനുഗമിച്ചുവോ, അതുപോലെ ഇപ്പോൾ ഞാനും അവനെ അനുഗമിക്കും—അതേ പാതയിലൂടെ യമലോകം വരെ.
"This Lakshmana glowing in brightness, travelled with me following me in the forest. In the same way I shall follow him to the abode of death."
FAQs
Dharma here is framed as unwavering reciprocity in loyalty: Rāma feels bound to match Lakṣmaṇa’s selfless following with his own—though the verse expresses grief-driven resolve rather than prescribed conduct.
Rāma, convinced Lakṣmaṇa has died, declares he will follow him to death, recalling their forest exile companionship.
Devotion and solidarity between brothers: Lakṣmaṇa’s earlier loyalty becomes the measure of Rāma’s response.