Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 22
लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः
Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons
कुरुष्व मामनुचरं वैधर्म्यं नेह विद्यते।कृतार्थोऽहं भविष्यामि तव चार्थः प्रकल्पते।।।।
kuruṣva mām anucaraṃ vaidharmyaṃ neha vidyate | kṛtārtho 'haṃ bhaviṣyāmi tava cārthaḥ prakalpate ||
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਅਨੁਚਰ ਤੇ ਅਨੁਗਾਮੀ ਬਣਾ ਲਵੋ; ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਭੰਗ ਨਹੀਂ। ਮੈਂ ਕ੍ਰਿਤਾਰਥ ਹੋਵਾਂਗਾ, ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਵੀ ਸਿਧ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।
Holding the bow and arrows and carrying a crowbar and a basket, I shall go in front of you leading the way.
FAQs
Sevā as dharma: Lakṣmaṇa frames personal accompaniment not as indulgence but as righteous duty, explicitly denying any vaidharmya (ethical impropriety).
Lakṣmaṇa formally petitions Rāma to accept him as an attendant in the forest-exile, arguing it benefits both.
Selfless loyalty—Lakṣmaṇa seeks fulfillment through service rather than status or comfort.