Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 5
भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival
Chitrakuta Encampment
Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Citrakūṭa forest vicinityReassurance within the Bharata-arrival episode
धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण ।
इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत् प्रतिशृणोमि ते ॥५॥
dharmam arthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa |
icchāmi bhavatām arthe etat pratiśṛṇomi te ||5||
హే లక్ష్మణా! మీ హితార్థమై నేను ధర్మం, అర్థం, కామం, ఇంకా భూమి (రాజ్యాధికారం) వరకు కూడా కోరుతున్నాను—ఇది నీకు నేను గంభీరంగా ప్రతిజ్ఞచేస్తున్నాను।
Sandhi Notes
- अर्थं च → अर्थम् + च
- पृथिवीं चापि → पृथिवीम् + च + अपि
- भवतामर्थे → भवताम् + अर्थे
- प्रतिशृणोमि ते → प्रतिशृणोमि + ते (एन्क्लिटिक)
O Lakshmana, on the oath of righteousness, I wish wealth and pleasure as well as this kingdom for the sake of you all.
The teaching
Dharma, artha, kāma—and even sovereignty—are to be pursued only as instruments for righteous welfare, not egoic possession.
- Ethical theme
- Puruṣārtha-samanvaya (integration of life aims)
For your practice
Align personal goals to dharma and service; take truthful vows lightly but keep them firmly.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Assuring, steadfast, uplifting
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Ethics
- Brotherly responsibility
- Legitimate aims of life (puruṣārthas)
All pursuits are meaningful when aligned to dharma and offered for others’ welfare—reducing egoic appropriation.
Ethic of satya-vāk: speech as vow; alignment of desire with righteousness echoes the Upaniṣadic stress on satya and self-mastery.
- Rama and Lakshmana
- Elder brother affirming care and shared purpose; reassurance (affectionate assurance). Leader’s vow for the welfare of dependents (anugraha) (protective benevolence)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.97 (Rāma’s ethical assurances to Lakṣmaṇa)
Dharmaśāstra puruṣārtha framework (dharma-artha-kāma); Bhagavad Gītā 3.20 (acting for loka-saṅgraha—welfare of others; thematic parallel)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Rāma’s repeated prioritization of companions’ welfare and dharma over personal gain
Anuṣṭup
Solemn
Firm, vow-like cadence; rising intonation on ‘धर्ममर्थं च कामं च’
FAQs
Dharma governs even legitimate goals (artha, kāma, and rulership). Rāma frames his desires as service-oriented—meant for the welfare of his brothers, not personal greed.
Rāma reassures Lakṣmaṇa that his stance is not hostility toward kingship itself, but toward unrighteous acquisition; he values the brothers’ welfare.
Responsibility and benevolence—Rāma’s aims are subordinated to family welfare and dharma.
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