Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 3

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

अअन्वक्षं लक्ष्मणो भ्रातुः कौशल्यामभ्यवादयत्।अथ मातु स्सुमित्राया जग्राह चरणौ पुनः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.3

Transliteration

ānvakṣaṃ lakṣmaṇo bhrātuḥ kauśalyām abhyavādayat | atha mātuḥ sumitrāyā jagrāha caraṇau punaḥ ||

Translation

Ngay sau anh mình, Lakṣmaṇa cung kính đảnh lễ Kauśalyā; rồi lại một lần nữa, chàng nắm lấy đôi chân của mẹ mình là Sumitrā.

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Word by Word

• anvakṣam: immediately after
• anvakṣam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anvakṣam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb meaning ‘immediately after / in sequence’ (अनन्तरार्थक)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhrātuḥ: of (his) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kauśalyām: Kausalya
• kauśalyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abhyavādayat: paid obeisance / greeted
• abhyavādayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ā-vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal particle

• mātuḥ: of (his) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sumitrāyāḥ: of Sumitra
• sumitrāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• jagrāha: took / held
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• caraṇau: (two) feet
• caraṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (पुनरावृत्ति)

Context

Immediately following Rama, his brother, Lakshmana also paid obeisance to Kausalya and, thereafter, held the feet of his own mother Sumitra.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Sumitrā

FAQs

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

Dharma is maryādā—proper conduct toward elders: even at a moment of departure and crisis, Lakṣmaṇa prioritizes respectful salutations and seeks blessings.

What is the narrative situation?

Preparing to accompany Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa follows the ritual and emotional protocol of taking leave—first honoring Kauśalyā, then his own mother Sumitrā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s humility and discipline—reverence that remains steady even under intense pressure.