Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 23

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

धनुरादाय सशरं खनित्रपिटकाधरः।अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि पन्थानमनुदर्शयन्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.31.23

Transliteration

dhanur ādāya saśaraṃ khanitrapiṭakādharaḥ | agratas te gamiṣyāmi panthānam anudarśayan ||

Translation

धनुरादाय सशरं, खनित्रपिटकाधरः। अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि, पन्थानमनुदर्शयन्॥

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Word by Word

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), अर्थः: गृहीत्वा (having taken)

• saśaram: with arrows
• saśaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (sa = सह/युक्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; धनुः-विशेषण

• khanitrapiṭakādharaḥ: bearing a spade/crowbar and a basket
• khanitrapiṭakādharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khanitra + piṭaka + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: खनित्रं च पिटकं च धारयति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in front)

• te: of you/your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (in front of you)

• gamiṣyāmi: I will go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• panthānam: the path
• panthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panthan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• anudarśayan: showing/pointing out
• anudarśayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-dṛś (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

Context

I shall daily collect roots, fruits and other forest products fit for ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Bow (dhanuḥ)
• Arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Active service and protection: dharma is not only intention but practical readiness—Lakṣmaṇa offers leadership in hardship and defense in danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa describes the concrete duties he will perform in exile—carrying tools and weapons and guiding the route.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and guardianship—he assumes responsibility for safety and logistics.