Valmiki Ramayana 2.44.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 5

सुमित्रोपदेशः · Sumitra’s Consolation to Kausalya

Devanagari script

वर्तते चोत्तमां वृत्तिं लक्ष्मणोऽस्मिन् सदानघः ।

दयावान् सर्वभूतेषु लाभस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.44.5

Transliteration

vartate cottamāṁ vṛttiṁ lakṣmaṇo ’smin sadānaghaḥ |

dayāvān sarvabhūteṣu lābhas tasya mahātmanaḥ ||5||

Translation

ఈ విషయంలో సదా నిర్దోషుడైన లక్ష్మణుడు ఉత్తమమైన ధర్మాచరణలో నిలిచాడు. సమస్త భూతాల పట్ల దయగలవాడై, ఆ మహాత్ముడు రామునకు నిజమైన లాభమై నిలుస్తాడు॥

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Word by Word

• अरण्यवासे: in forest-dwelling
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य+वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अरण्ये वासः)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• यत्: which
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• दुःखम्: hardship/sorrow
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• जानती: knowing
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Active Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘knowing’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)

• सुखोचिता: accustomed to comfort
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख+उचित (प्रातिपदिक; उचित from वच्/उच्? as PPP of √उच् in sense 'fit')
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सुखे उचिता = accustomed to comfort)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अनुगच्छति: follows
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• धर्मात्मानम्: righteous-souled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म+आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तव: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• आत्मजम्: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म+ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः जायते इति)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• यद्दुःखं = यत् + दुःखम्
• तवात्मजम् = तव + आत्मजम्

Context

Blameless Lakshmana, compassionate to all beings, has acted most nobly in this matter for the benefit of his great soul.

The teaching

The highest gain to a great soul is the presence of a companion whose conduct is pure and whose compassion extends to all beings.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma (conduct ethics)

For your practice

Cultivates sevā-bhāva and dayā as daily disciplines; encourages seeing virtue and compassionate companionship as true wealth.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Steadfast, compassionate, exemplary

Themes

• Dharma
• Bhakti
• Fraternal duty
• Sevā (service)
• Ethics
• Maryada
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (implied by ‘tasya mahātmanaḥ’ and ‘asmin’ context)

FAQs

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

Sevā-dharma: righteous service to a noble cause—supporting the virtuous without selfish motive—becomes a moral ‘gain’ for all involved.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative highlights Lakṣmaṇa’s exemplary behavior and compassion while acting in matters connected to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s blameless loyalty and compassion—steadfast, principled support grounded in dharma.