Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 4
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
अग्रतो लक्ष्मणो यातः पालयन्रघुनन्दनम् ।
तांस्तथा गच्छतो दृष्ट्वा निवृत्तोऽस्म्यवशस्तदा ॥४॥
agrato lakṣmaṇo yātaḥ pālayan raghunandanam |
tāṁs tathā gacchato dṛṣṭvā nivṛtto 'smy avaśas tadā ||4||
अग्रे लक्ष्मणो ययौ, रघुनन्दनं रामं परिरक्षन्। तौ तथा प्रयान्तौ दृष्ट्वा, तदा अहम् अवशः सन् निवृत्तोऽस्मि॥
Lakshmana walked ahead guarding Rama, the delight of the Raghus. While I returned helplessly seeing them go.
FAQs
The verse highlights dharma as protective duty and loyal service: Lakṣmaṇa fulfills his obligation to safeguard Rāma, while the speaker acknowledges the painful necessity of returning despite personal grief.
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are departing toward the forest for exile; Sumantra watches them go and then returns to Ayodhyā, unable to alter the decision.
Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance and devotion (sevā-bhāva) are emphasized—he goes ahead as a guardian, embodying steadfast fraternal loyalty.
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