Valmiki Ramayana 2.19.39 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 39

एकोनविंशः सर्गः (Sarga 19): Rāma’s Unshaken Acceptance of Exile and Kaikeyī’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तं गुणैस्समतां प्राप्तो भ्राता विपुलविक्रमः।सौमित्रिरनुवव्राज धारयन्दुःखमात्मजम्।।2.19.39।।

Transliteration

taṃ guṇaiḥ samatāṃ prāpto bhrātā vipulavikramaḥ | saumitrir anuvavrāja dhārayan duḥkham ātmajam || 2.19.39 ||

Translation

Lakṣmaṇa, bậc dũng mãnh phi thường, đức hạnh sánh ngang anh mình, liền theo sau; nén giữ nỗi sầu tự lòng sinh khởi.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गुणैः: by virtues
• गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• समताम्: equality, parity
• समताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राप्तः: having attained
• प्राप्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agrees with भ्राता/सौमित्रिः

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विपुलविक्रमः: of great prowess
• विपुलविक्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipula + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: "विपुलो विक्रमो यस्य सः"

• सौमित्रिः: Saumitri (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अनुवव्राज: followed
• अनुवव्राज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-vraj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• धारयन्: bearing, holding back
• धारयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; agrees with सौमित्रिः

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: one's own (born of self)
• आत्मजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: "आत्मनः जातम्" (born of oneself/one's own)

Context

Mighty Lakshmana as virtuous as his brother held the sorrow in his mind and followed him.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is loyalty and service to one’s righteous elder (anuvṛtti): Lakṣmaṇa follows Rāma while mastering personal grief.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma proceeds onward, Lakṣmaṇa accompanies him closely, inwardly distressed yet outwardly composed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast devotion and emotional restraint: Lakṣmaṇa’s strength is shown in disciplined support, not display.