Shloka 20

लक्ष्मणोपदेशः

Lakshmana Consoles Rama on Fate, Fortitude, and Right Action

Devanagari script

किं तेन सर्वनाशेन कृतेन पुरुषर्षभ।तमेव त्वं रिपुं पापं विज्ञायोद्धर्तुमर्हसि।।3.66.20।।

Transliteration

mahatā tapasā rāma mahatā cāpi karmaṇā |

rājñā daśarathenāsi labdho 'mṛtam ivāmaraiḥ || 3.66.3 ||

Translation

महता तपसा राम महता चापि कर्मणा। राज्ञा दशरथेनासि लब्धोऽमृतमिवामरैः॥

Word by Word

• kim: what (use)
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंस/पुं, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sarvanāśena: by total destruction
• sarvanāśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘destruction of all’)

• kṛtena: by (such) an act
• kṛtena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by the act done’

• puruṣarṣabha: O best of men
• puruṣarṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘bull among men’)

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ripum: enemy
• ripum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to tam

• pāpam: sinful
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (ripum)

• vijñāya: having known
• vijñāya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘having ascertained’

• uddhartum: to uproot/remove
• uddhartum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√hṛ (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive)

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O best among men ! where is the good in the destruction of all? Know your sinful enemy before you uproot him.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkēya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the sixtysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Dasharatha
• Devas (Amaras)

FAQs

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

Dharma of honoring one’s origins and purpose: Rama is reminded that his life is a hard-won boon meant for protection and righteousness, not collapse in despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana motivates Rama by recalling Dasharatha’s extraordinary effort in obtaining him as a son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s worthiness and destined responsibility as a protector, grounded in noble lineage and divine purpose.