Valmiki Ramayana 2.31.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 9

लक्ष्मणस्य वनानुगमन-प्रतिज्ञा तथा आयुध-संग्रहः

Lakshmana’s Vow to Follow Rama and the Retrieval of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा रामो लक्ष्मणमग्रतः।स्थितं प्राग्गामिनं वीरं याचमानं कृताञ्जलिम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.31.9

Transliteration

tato 'bravīn mahātejā rāmo lakṣmaṇam agrataḥ | sthitaṃ prāg-gāminaṃ vīraṃ yācamānaṃ kṛtāñjalim ||

Translation

تب مہاتेजا رام نے اپنے سامنے لکشمن سے کہا—وہ بہادر، ہاتھ جوڑے کھڑا تھا، اور پیش رو بن کر آگے جانے کی التجا کر رہا تھا۔

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/after that
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• mahātejāḥ: the mighty/brilliant one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) to rāmaḥ; समासः कर्मधारयः (mahā + tejas)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd case), एकवचन

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• sthitam: standing
• sthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; lakṣmaṇam qualifies (acc. sg.)

• prāk-gāminam: going ahead/ready to go before
• prāk-gāminam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāk + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to lakṣmaṇam; समासः तत्पुरुषः (prāk = ahead + gāmin = going)

• vīram: the hero/valiant one
• vīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to lakṣmaṇam

• yācamānam: imploring/begging
• yācamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāc (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying lakṣmaṇam

• kṛtāñjalim: with folded hands
• kṛtāñjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to lakṣmaṇam; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kṛta = made + añjali = folded palms)

Context

Addressing the heroic Lakshmana in front of him imploring with folded hands to take him to the forest so that he may walk ahead (and guard them), the effulgent Rama said:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through respectful petition and righteous protection: Lakshmaṇa seeks to serve as guardian, and Rāma responds within the ethics of leadership and care.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration sets the scene: Lakshmaṇa stands pleading with joined palms, and Rāma prepares to answer him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility in service—Lakshmaṇa’s heroic resolve is paired with reverence and self-effacement.