Shloka 41

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort

Devanagari script

विमृज्य बाष्पं परिसान्त्व्यचासकृत्स लक्ष्मणं राघववंशवर्धनः।उवाच पित्र्ये वचने व्यवस्थितंनिबोध मामेष हि सौम्य सत्पथः।।।।

Transliteration

vimṛjya bāṣpaṃ parisāntvya cāsakṛt sa lakṣmaṇaṃ rāghava-vaṃśa-vardhanaḥ |

uvāca pitrye vacane vyavasthitaṃ nibodha mām eṣa hi saumya satpathaḥ ||

Translation

రఘువంశవర్ధకుడైన రాముడు కన్నీటిని మళ్లీ మళ్లీ తుడిచివేసి, లక్ష్మణుని పునఃపునః సాంత్వనపరచి ఇలా అన్నాడు—“సౌమ్యా, నా మాట గ్రహించు. నేను పితృవాక్యంలో స్థిరుడను; ఇదే సత్పథము।”

Word by Word

• vimṛjya: having wiped
• vimṛjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), धातु: मृज् (to wipe) with उपसर्ग vi-

• bāṣpam: tears
• bāṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• parisāntvya: having consoled
• parisāntvya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-sāntv (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: सान्त्व्/सान्त्वय् (to console) with उपसर्ग pari-

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• asakṛt: again and again
• asakṛt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: asakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb of repetition)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• rāghava-vaṃśa-vardhanaḥ: increaser of the Raghu line (Rama)
• rāghava-vaṃśa-vardhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: rāghavānāṃ vaṃśasya vardhanaḥ

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• pitrye: in the father’s (matter) / pertaining to father
• pitrye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• vacane: in the word/command
• vacane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• vyavasthitam: steadfast/abiding (in it)
• vyavasthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ava-sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘fixed/steadfast/abiding’

• nibodha: know/understand
• nibodha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-budh (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• saumya: O gentle one
• saumya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• satpathaḥ: the right path
• satpathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: sat pathaḥ = ‘good/right path’

Context

Why don't you realise, O virtuous one! that there are soft means of creating hindrances in their plan without trangressing dharma. You know dharma. Why don't you understand that their acts of deception wear the guise of dharma?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Raghu dynasty
• Dasharatha (implied by “father’s word”)

FAQs

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

Rama defines dharma as steadfast truthfulness and obedience to a rightful promise/command—honoring the father’s word even at personal cost.

What is the narrative situation?

After Lakshmana’s fierce proposals, Rama calms him and reaffirms his commitment to accept exile to keep Dasharatha’s word intact.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-niṣṭhā (devotion to truth) and maryādā (self-restraint within ethical limits).