Shloka 10

लक्ष्मणोपदेशः

Lakshmana Consoles Rama on Fate, Fortitude, and Right Action

Devanagari script

यौ धर्मौ जगतां नेत्रौ यत्र सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।आदित्यचन्द्रौ ग्रहणमभ्युपेतौ महाबलौ।।3.66.10।।

Transliteration

yau dharmau jagatāṃ netrau yatra sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam |

ādityacandrau grahaṇam abhyupetau mahābalau || 3.66.10 ||

Translation

यौ धर्मौ जगतां नेत्रौ यत्र सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। आदित्यचन्द्रौ महाबलौ ग्रहणमभ्युपेतौ कदाचन॥

Word by Word

• yau: which two
• yau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; relative pronoun

• dharmau: two upholders of order
• dharmau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• jagatām: of the worlds
• jagatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• netrau: two eyes
• netrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; predicate nominative

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (relative adverb: where)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pratiṣṭhitam: is established/rests
• pratiṣṭhitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Kta (past participle), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate of sarvam

• ādityacandrau: Sun and Moon
• ādityacandrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āditya + candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; itaretara-dvandva (Sun and Moon)

• grahaṇam: eclipse
• grahaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• abhyupetau: have undergone/encountered
• abhyupetau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + upa + i (इ धातु)
• Form: Kta (past participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; predicate of ādityacandrau

• mahābalau: very powerful (two)
• mahābalau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; karmadhāraya: mahad balaṃ yayor

Context

The powerful Sun and Moon, righteous entities, who are the two eyes of these worlds and on whom everything rests firmly, also suffer eclipses sometimes.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Aditya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes resilience: even the greatest forces undergo temporary obscuration; one should not abandon righteous action because of passing darkness.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana reasons with Rama, using a cosmic analogy (eclipses) to normalize misfortune and prevent despair after Sita’s loss.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s clarity and didactic skill—he uses imagery to restore Rama’s steadiness and dharmic perspective.