Shloka 3

लक्ष्मणोपदेशः

Lakshmana Consoles Rama on Fate, Fortitude, and Right Action

Devanagari script

महता तपसा राम महता चापि कर्मणा।राज्ञा दशरथेनासि लब्धोऽमृतमिवामरैः।।3.66.3।।

Transliteration

mahatā tapasā rāma mahatā cāpi karmaṇā |

rājñā daśarathenāsi labdho 'mṛtam ivāmaraiḥ || 3.66.3 ||

Translation

โอ้พระราม! ด้วยตบะอันยิ่งใหญ่และด้วยกรรมอันยิ่งใหญ่ พระเจ้าทศรถทรงได้พระองค์มา ดุจเหล่าเทวะได้อมฤต

Word by Word

• mahatā: by great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa (instrumental of means)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• rāma: O Rama
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• mahatā: by great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/saṃbhāvanā-avyaya (particle)

• karmaṇā: by deed/action
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• rājñā: by the king
• rājñā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• daśarathena: by Daśaratha
• daśarathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; apposition to rājñā

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; copula

• labdhaḥ: obtained
• labdhaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate with asi

• amṛtam: nectar/ambrosia
• amṛtam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; upamāna with iva

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle/उपमा)

• amaraiḥ: by the gods/immortals
• amaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

Context

O best among men ! where is the good in the destruction of all? Know your sinful enemy before you uproot him.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkēya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the sixtysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Dasharatha
• Devas (Amaras)

FAQs

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

Dharma of honoring one’s origins and purpose: Rama is reminded that his life is a hard-won boon meant for protection and righteousness, not collapse in despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana motivates Rama by recalling Dasharatha’s extraordinary effort in obtaining him as a son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s worthiness and destined responsibility as a protector, grounded in noble lineage and divine purpose.