Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 20

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Spoken by Lakṣmaṇa to RamaSetting: Forest

Devanagari script

तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मण श्श्रुत्वा व्रीलितः प्रत्युवाच ह ।

त्वां मन्ये द्रष्टुमायातः पिता दशरथ स्स्वयम् ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.97.20

Transliteration

tadvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ śrutvā vrīlitaḥ pratyuvāca ha |

tvāṃ manye draṣṭum āyātaḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam ||20||

Translation

Usłyszawszy te słowa, Lakshmana, teraz zawstydzony, odpowiedział: 'Sądzę, że nasz ojciec Daśaratha osobiście przybył tutaj, aby cię zobaczyć.'

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Word by Word

• tat: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vākyam: statement/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): having heard
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकालः)

• vrīlitaḥ: abashed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrīlita (कृदन्त, √vrī/vrīḍ धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ha: indeed (narrative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) कथन-समाप्ति/अनुस्मरणार्थ
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• manye: I think
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• draṣṭum: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive): to see
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)

• āyātaḥ: has come
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• pitā: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• daśarathaḥ: Dasharatha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• svayam: himself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (indeclinable adverb: personally)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

Sandhi Notes

• tadvākyaṅ = tat vākyam
• śśrutvā = śrutvā (orthographic doubling)
• draṣṭumāyātaḥ = draṣṭum āyātaḥ
• daśaratha ssvayam = daśarathaḥ svayam

Context

Hearing the words of Rama, Lakshmana was abashed and said I think it is our father, king Dasaratha who has come here personally to see you.

The teaching

The father’s dharmic authority endures as an inner compass; remembrance can steady conduct.

Ethical theme

Pitṛdharma / smṛti

For your practice

Supports ancestral reverence (pitṛ-tarpaṇa attitude) and mindful remembrance of vows; useful in cultivating gratitude.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Startled, wistful, reverent

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Family-duty
• Humility

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Respect for parental authority and family bonds: Lakṣmaṇa interprets events through the lens of a father’s concern and rightful oversight.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Rāma’s words, Lakṣmaṇa reacts with embarrassment and guesses that King Daśaratha has arrived to meet them in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s humility and filial sensitivity—he is “vrīlitaḥ” (abashed) and immediately thinks of the father’s presence.