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Shloka 12

लक्ष्मण-प्राणरक्षा:

Lakshmana’s Revival by the Herb-Mountain

किंमेयुद्धेनकिंप्राणैर्युद्धकार्यं न विद्यते ।यत्रायंनिहतश्शेतेरणमूर्धनिलक्ष्मणः ।।।।

kiṃ me yuddhena kiṃ prāṇair yuddhakāryaṃ na vidyate | yatrāyaṃ nihataḥ śete raṇamūrdhani lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

مجھے اس جنگ سے کیا حاصل، اور ان سانسوں سے کیا فائدہ؟ جب لکشمن میدانِ رزم کے سرے پر زخمی ہو کر پڑا ہے تو لڑائی کا کوئی مقصد نہیں۔

kimwhat (use)
kim:
Prashna (प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormInterrogative pronoun, Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
meto me / for me
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
yuddhenawith battle / by fighting
yuddhena:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootyuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
kimwhat (use)
kim:
Prashna (प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormInterrogative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
prāṇaiḥwith life-breaths / with life
prāṇaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootprāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)
yuddha-kāryamthe purpose/need of fighting
yuddha-kāryam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of battle' + 'purpose/need'
nanot
na:
Negator (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle
vidyateexists / is known
vidyate:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vid (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; existential 'is found'
yatrawhere
yatra:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyatra (अव्यय)
FormRelative adverb (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय)
ayamthis
ayam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular
nihataḥslain/struck down
nihataḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootni√han (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
śetelies
śete:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śī (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada
raṇa-mūrdhaniat the forefront of battle
raṇa-mūrdhani:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of battle' + 'head/top/front'
lakṣmaṇaḥLakshmana
lakṣmaṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootlakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

'What purpose is there to fight in battle or in life with Lakshmana lying in the forefront struck in the battlefield?'

R
Rāma
L
Lakṣmaṇa
B
battlefront (raṇa-mūrdhan)

FAQs

The verse dramatizes a dharmic crisis: Rama’s sense of duty is inseparable from the lives and sacrifices of the righteous; he refuses to treat war as an abstract achievement.

Rama, seeing Lakṣmaṇa down at the battlefront, voices despair and loss of purpose.

Deep relational responsibility—Rama’s life-purpose is tied to protecting those who uphold dharma.