Lakshmana's Discourse on Dharma

Shloka 1 (yuddha.83.1)

राघवश्चापि विपुलं तं राक्षसवनौकसाम्। श्रुत्वा सङ्ग्रामनिर्घोषं जाम्बवन्तमुवाच ह॥ 83.1 ॥

rāghavaścāpi vipulaṃ taṃ rākṣasavanaukasām | śrutvā saṅgrāmanirghoṣaṃ jāmbavantamuvāca ha || 83.1 ||

Rama, hearing that great tumult of battle between the rakshasas and the forest-dwellers, spoke to Jambavan.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.83.2)

सौम्य नूनं हनुमता कृतं कर्म सुदुष्करम्। श्रूयते हि यथा भीमः सुमहानायुधस्वनः॥ 83.2 ॥

saumya nūnaṃ hanumatā kṛtaṃ karma suduṣkaram | śrūyate hi yathā bhīmaḥ sumahānāyudhasvanaḥ || 83.2 ||

"Good friend, surely Hanuman has performed some exceedingly difficult feat — one can tell from the tremendous, terrible clash of weapons that is heard.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.83.3)

तद्गच्छ कुरु साहाय्यं स्वबलेनाभिसंवृतः। क्षिप्रमृक्षपते तस्य कपिश्रेष्ठस्य युध्यतः॥ 83.3 ॥

tadgaccha kuru sāhāyyaṃ svabalenābhisaṃvṛtaḥ | kṣipramṛkṣapate tasya kapiśreṣṭhasya yudhyataḥ || 83.3 ||

Therefore go, O lord of bears, and with your own forces swiftly render aid to that foremost of monkeys, who is engaged in battle."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.83.4)

ऋक्षराजस्तथेत्युक्त्वा स्वेनानीकेन संवृतः। आगच्छत्पश्चिमद्वारं हनूमान्यत्र वानरः॥ 83.4 ॥

ṛkṣarājastathetyuktvā svenānīkena saṃvṛtaḥ | āgacchatpaścimadvāraṃ hanūmānyatra vānaraḥ || 83.4 ||

Saying "So be it," the lord of bears, surrounded by his own army, came to the western gate, where the monkey Hanuman was.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.83.5)

अथायान्तं हनूमन्तं ददर्शर्क्षपतिः पथि। वानरैः कृतसङ्ग्रामैः श्वसद्भिरभिसंवृतम्॥ 83.5 ॥

athāyāntaṃ hanūmantaṃ dadarśarkṣapatiḥ pathi | vānaraiḥ kṛtasaṅgrāmaiḥ śvasadbhirabhisaṃvṛtam || 83.5 ||

Then, on the way, the lord of bears saw Hanuman coming, surrounded by monkeys who had fought hard and were breathing heavily.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.83.6)

दृष्ट्वा पथि हनूमांश्च तदृक्षबलमुद्यतम्। नीलमेघनिभं भीमं संनिवार्य न्यवर्तत॥ 83.6 ॥

dṛṣṭvā pathi hanūmāṃśca tadṛkṣabalamudyatam | nīlameghanibhaṃ bhīmaṃ saṃnivārya nyavartata || 83.6 ||

Seeing on the way that terrible bear-army, dark as a cloud, advancing, Hanuman checked it and turned it back.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.83.7)

स तेन हरिसैन्येन संनिकर्षं महायशाः। शीघ्रमागम्य रामाय दुःखितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 83.7 ॥

sa tena harisainyena saṃnikarṣaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | śīghramāgamya rāmāya duḥkhito vākyamabravīt || 83.7 ||

Then that illustrious Hanuman, reaching Rama's presence quickly with that army, spoke sorrowful words to him.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.83.8)

समरे युध्यमानानामस्माकं प्रेक्षतां च सः। जघान रुदतीं सीतामिन्द्रजिद्रावणात्मजः॥ 83.8 ॥

samare yudhyamānānāmasmākaṃ prekṣatāṃ ca saḥ | jaghāna rudatīṃ sītāmindrajidrāvaṇātmajaḥ || 83.8 ||

"While we were fighting and looking on, Indrajit, son of Ravana, killed Sita even as she wept.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.83.9)

उद्भ्रान्तचित्तस्तां दृष्ट्वा विषण्णोऽहमरिन्दम। तदहं भवतो वृत्तं विज्ञापयितुमागतः॥ 83.9 ॥

udbhrāntacittastāṃ dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇo'hamarindama | tadahaṃ bhavato vṛttaṃ vijñāpayitumāgataḥ || 83.9 ||

O tormentor of foes, seeing her, my mind reeled and I was overcome with sorrow; so I have come to report to you what has happened."

Shloka 10 (yuddha.83.10)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवः शोकमूर्छितः। निपपात तदा भूमौ छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः॥ 83.10 ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavaḥ śokamūrchitaḥ | nipapāta tadā bhūmau chinnamūla iva drumaḥ || 83.10 ||

Hearing those words of Hanuman, Rama, overwhelmed by grief, fell to the ground at once, like a tree whose roots have been severed.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.83.11)

तं भूमौ देवसङ्काशं पतितं दृश्य राघवम्। अभिपेतुः समुत्पत्य सर्वतः कपिसत्तमाः॥ 83.11 ॥

taṃ bhūmau devasaṅkāśaṃ patitaṃ dṛśya rāghavam | abhipetuḥ samutpatya sarvataḥ kapisattamāḥ || 83.11 ||

Seeing Rama, resembling a god, fallen upon the ground, the foremost monkeys sprang up and rushed toward him from every side.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.83.12)

असिञ्चन्सलिलैश्चैनं पद्मोत्पलसुगन्धिभिः। प्रदहन्तमसह्यं च सहसाग्निमिवोत्थितम्॥ 83.12 ॥

asiñcansalilaiścainaṃ padmotpalasugandhibhiḥ | pradahantamasahyaṃ ca sahasāgnimivotthitam || 83.12 ||

They sprinkled him with water fragrant with lotus and lily, as one would sprinkle a raging fire that had suddenly flared up beyond control.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.83.13)

तं लक्ष्मणोऽथ बाहुभ्यां परिष्वज्य सुदुःखितः। उवाच राममस्वस्थं वाक्यं हेत्वर्थसंहितम्॥ 83.13 ॥

taṃ lakṣmaṇo'tha bāhubhyāṃ pariṣvajya suduḥkhitaḥ | uvāca rāmamasvasthaṃ vākyaṃ hetvarthasaṃhitam || 83.13 ||

Then Lakshmana, in deep sorrow, embraced Rama with both arms and spoke to him, still dazed, words full of reason and meaning.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.83.14)

शुभे वर्त्मनि तिष्ठन्तं त्वामार्यविजितेन्द्रियम्। अनर्थेभ्यो न शक्नोति त्रातुं धर्मो निरर्थकः॥ 83.14 ॥

śubhe vartmani tiṣṭhantaṃ tvāmāryavijitendriyam | anarthebhyo na śaknoti trātuṃ dharmo nirarthakaḥ || 83.14 ||

"O noble one, standing ever on the righteous path, master of your senses — virtue is powerless to save you from calamity; it seems useless.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.83.15)

भूतानां स्थावराणां च जङ्गमानां च दर्शनम्। यथास्ति न तथा धर्मस्तेन नास्तीति मे मतिः॥ 83.15 ॥

bhūtānāṃ sthāvarāṇāṃ ca jaṅgamānāṃ ca darśanam | yathāsti na tathā dharmastena nāstīti me matiḥ || 83.15 ||

"Just as animate and inanimate beings are plainly visible, virtue is not so visible; therefore my opinion is that virtue does not truly exist.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.83.16)

यथैव स्थावरं व्यक्तं जङ्गमं च तथाविधम्। नायमर्थस्तथा युक्तस्त्वद्विधो न विपद्यते॥ 83.16 ॥

yathaiva sthāvaraṃ vyaktaṃ jaṅgamaṃ ca tathāvidham | nāyamarthastathā yuktastvadvidho na vipadyate || 83.16 ||

"Even as inanimate and animate things are manifest, this thing called virtue is not so established — for otherwise, a man like you would never meet with such misfortune.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.83.17)

यद्यधर्मो भवेद्भूतो रावणो नरकं व्रजेत्। भवांश्च धर्मसंयुक्तो नैवं व्यसनमाप्नुयात्॥ 83.17 ॥

yadyadharmo bhavedbhūto rāvaṇo narakaṃ vrajet | bhavāṃśca dharmasaṃyukto naivaṃ vyasanamāpnuyāt || 83.17 ||

"If unrighteousness truly existed as a real force, Ravana would go to hell; and you, devoted to righteousness, would never have met with such calamity.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.83.18)

तस्य च व्यसनाभावाद्व्यसनं च गते त्वयि। धर्मो भवत्यधर्मश्च परस्परविरोधिनौ॥ 83.18 ॥

tasya ca vyasanābhāvādvyasanaṃ ca gate tvayi | dharmo bhavatyadharmaśca parasparavirodhinau || 83.18 ||

"Since no calamity has befallen him, while misfortune has come upon you, it seems that virtue and vice have exchanged their very natures with one another.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.83.19)

धर्मेणोपलभेद्धर्ममधर्मं चाप्यधर्मतः। यदि धर्मेण युज्येरन्नाधर्मः प्रतिष्ठतः॥ 83.19 ॥

dharmeṇopalabheddharmamadharmaṃ cāpyadharmataḥ | yadi dharmeṇa yujyerannādharmaḥ pratiṣṭhataḥ || 83.19 ||

"Would the fruit of virtue truly be obtained through virtue, and the fruit of vice through vice? If those in whom unrighteousness is rooted are joined only with unrighteousness—

Shloka 20 (yuddha.83.20)

न धर्मेण वियुज्येरन्नधर्मरुचयो जनाः। धर्मेण चरतां धर्मस्तथा चैषां फलं भवेत्॥ 83.20 ॥

na dharmeṇa viyujyerannadharmarucayo janāḥ | dharmeṇa caratāṃ dharmastathā caiṣāṃ phalaṃ bhavet || 83.20 ||

—and people inclined to unrighteousness were never parted from the fruit of righteousness, then those who walk the path of virtue would surely reap virtue's reward.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.83.21)

यस्मादर्था विवर्धन्ते येष्वधर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः। क्लिश्यन्ते धर्मशीलाश्च तस्मादेतौ निरर्थकौ॥ 83.21 ॥

yasmādarthā vivardhante yeṣvadharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | kliśyante dharmaśīlāśca tasmādetau nirarthakau || 83.21 ||

"Since the wealth of those in whom unrighteousness is rooted only increases, while the righteous suffer hardship, therefore both virtue and vice seem meaningless.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.83.22)

वध्यन्ते पापकर्माणो यद्यधर्मेण राघव। वधकर्महतो धर्मः स हतः कं वधिष्यति॥ 83.22 ॥

vadhyante pāpakarmāṇo yadyadharmeṇa rāghava | vadhakarmahato dharmaḥ sa hataḥ kaṃ vadhiṣyati || 83.22 ||

"O Rama, if evildoers are slain by their own unrighteousness, then that unrighteousness, having accomplished the killing, is itself destroyed at once — whom then will it destroy?

Shloka 23 (yuddha.83.23)

अथ वा विहितेनायं हन्यते हन्ति वा परम्। विधिरालिप्यते तेन न स पापेन कर्मणा॥ 83.23 ॥

atha vā vihitenāyaṃ hanyate hanti vā param | vidhirālipyate tena na sa pāpena karmaṇā || 83.23 ||

"Or else, if a man is slain, or slays another, by recourse to a rite ordained in scripture, then it is that ordinance alone which bears the taint of the sinful act, not the doer.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.83.24)

अदृष्टप्रतिकारेण अव्यक्तेनासता सता। कथं शक्यं परं प्राप्तुं धर्मेणारिविकर्शन॥ 83.24 ॥

adṛṣṭapratikāreṇa avyaktenāsatā satā | kathaṃ śakyaṃ paraṃ prāptuṃ dharmeṇārivikarśana || 83.24 ||

"O scorcher of foes, how then can true good be attained through a virtue that has never been seen to retaliate, that remains unmanifest, and seems neither truly existent nor non-existent?

Shloka 25 (yuddha.83.25)

यदि सत्स्यात्सतां मुख्य नासत्स्यात्तव किं चन। त्वया यदीदृशं प्राप्तं तस्मात्सन्नोपपद्यते॥ 83.25 ॥

yadi satsyātsatāṃ mukhya nāsatsyāttava kiṃ cana | tvayā yadīdṛśaṃ prāptaṃ tasmātsannopapadyate || 83.25 ||

"O foremost of the righteous, if virtue truly existed, no misfortune whatsoever would have befallen you; since such a calamity has come upon you, it follows that virtue does not exist.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.83.26)

अथ वा दुर्बलः क्लीबो बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते। दुर्बलो हृतमर्यादो न सेव्य इति मे मतिः॥ 83.26 ॥

atha vā durbalaḥ klībo balaṃ dharmo'nuvartate | durbalo hṛtamaryādo na sevya iti me matiḥ || 83.26 ||

"Or else, if righteousness, weak and impotent, only yields to superior force, then it is my opinion that a righteousness so feeble and stripped of its power ought no longer to be followed.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.83.27)

बलस्य यदि चेद्धर्मो गुणभूतः पराक्रमे। धर्ममुत्सृज्य वर्तस्व यथा धर्मे तथा बले॥ 83.27 ॥

balasya yadi ceddharmo guṇabhūtaḥ parākrame | dharmamutsṛjya vartasva yathā dharme tathā bale || 83.27 ||

"If virtue is merely a subordinate quality of strength in achieving valor, then abandon virtue and rely on strength alone, just as you have relied on virtue.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.83.28)

अथ चेत्सत्यवचनं धर्मः किल परन्तप। अनृतस्त्वय्यकरुणः किं न बद्धस्त्वया पिता॥ 83.28 ॥

atha cetsatyavacanaṃ dharmaḥ kila parantapa | anṛtastvayyakaruṇaḥ kiṃ na baddhastvayā pitā || 83.28 ||

"O scorcher of your foes! And if speaking truth is indeed virtue, was not our father — who broke faith and showed you no mercy — himself bound by that same truth?

Shloka 29 (yuddha.83.29)

यदि धर्मो भवेद्भूत अधर्मो वा परन्तप। न स्म हत्वा मुनिं वज्री कुर्यादिज्यां शतक्रतुः॥ 83.29 ॥

yadi dharmo bhavedbhūta adharmo vā parantapa | na sma hatvā muniṃ vajrī kuryādijyāṃ śatakratuḥ || 83.29 ||

"O scorcher of foes, if either virtue or vice truly had substance, Indra the wielder of the thunderbolt would never have performed a sacrifice after slaying the sage.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.83.30)

अधर्मसंश्रितो धर्मो विनाशयति राघव। सर्वमेतद्यथाकामं काकुत्स्थ कुरुते नरः॥ 83.30 ॥

adharmasaṃśrito dharmo vināśayati rāghava | sarvametadyathākāmaṃ kākutstha kurute naraḥ || 83.30 ||

"O Rama, virtue, when allied with what is other than itself, destroys the enemy; O Kakutstha, a man accomplishes everything according to his own will.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.83.31)

मम चेदं मतं तात धर्मोऽयमिति राघव। धर्ममूलं त्वया छिन्नं राज्यमुत्सृजता तदा॥ 83.31 ॥

mama cedaṃ mataṃ tāta dharmo'yamiti rāghava | dharmamūlaṃ tvayā chinnaṃ rājyamutsṛjatā tadā || 83.31 ||

"This, O Rama, is my opinion: that righteousness lies in such recourse — but the very root of virtue, in the form of worldly gain, was cut by you when you renounced the kingdom.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.83.32)

अर्थेभ्यो हि विवृद्धेभ्यः संवृद्धेभ्यस्ततस्ततः। क्रियाः सर्वाः प्रवर्तन्ते पर्वतेभ्य इवापगाः॥ 83.32 ॥

arthebhyo hi vivṛddhebhyaḥ saṃvṛddhebhyastatastataḥ | kriyāḥ sarvāḥ pravartante parvatebhya ivāpagāḥ || 83.32 ||

"For from wealth, gathered and increased from place to place, all undertakings proceed — just as rivers flow forth from the mountains.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.83.33)

अर्थेन हि वियुक्तस्य पुरुषस्याल्पतेजसः। व्युच्छिद्यन्ते क्रियाः सर्वा ग्रीष्मे कुसरितो यथा॥ 83.33 ॥

arthena hi viyuktasya puruṣasyālpatejasaḥ | vyucchidyante kriyāḥ sarvā grīṣme kusarito yathā || 83.33 ||

"For a man of little vigor, bereft of wealth, all his undertakings come to a halt, as small streams dry up in the summer season.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.83.34)

सोऽयमर्थं परित्यज्य सुखकामः सुखैधितः। पापमारभते कर्तुं तथा दोषः प्रवर्तते॥ 83.34 ॥

so'yamarthaṃ parityajya sukhakāmaḥ sukhaidhitaḥ | pāpamārabhate kartuṃ tathā doṣaḥ pravartate || 83.34 ||

"Such a man, raised in comfort, forsaking wealth in his longing for ease, at last takes to sinful courses — and from that, ruin follows.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.83.35)

यस्यार्थास्तस्य मित्राणि यस्यार्थास्तस्य बान्धवः। यस्यार्थाः स पुमांल्लोके यस्यार्थाः स च पण्डितः॥ 83.35 ॥

yasyārthāstasya mitrāṇi yasyārthāstasya bāndhavaḥ | yasyārthāḥ sa pumāṃlloke yasyārthāḥ sa ca paṇḍitaḥ || 83.35 ||

"He who has wealth has friends; he who has wealth has kinsmen; he who has wealth is accounted a man in this world; he who has wealth is called wise.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.83.36)

यस्यार्थाः स च विक्रान्तो यस्यार्थाः स च बुद्धिमान्। यस्यार्थाः स महाभागो यस्यार्थाः स महागुणः॥ 83.36 ॥

yasyārthāḥ sa ca vikrānto yasyārthāḥ sa ca buddhimān | yasyārthāḥ sa mahābhāgo yasyārthāḥ sa mahāguṇaḥ || 83.36 ||

"He who has wealth is called valiant; he who has wealth is called wise; he who has wealth is called fortunate; he who has wealth is called virtuous.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.83.37)

अर्थस्यैते परित्यागे दोषाः प्रव्याहृता मया। राज्यमुत्सृजता वीर येन बुद्धिस्त्वया कृता॥ 83.37 ॥

arthasyaite parityāge doṣāḥ pravyāhṛtā mayā | rājyamutsṛjatā vīra yena buddhistvayā kṛtā || 83.37 ||

"O valiant one, I have told you these evils that come from renouncing wealth — the reasoning on which you resolved to give up the kingdom was unknown to me.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.83.38)

यस्यार्था धर्मकामार्थास्तस्य सर्वं प्रदक्षिणम्। अधनेनार्थकामेन नार्थः शक्यो विचिन्वता॥ 83.38 ॥

yasyārthā dharmakāmārthāstasya sarvaṃ pradakṣiṇam | adhanenārthakāmena nārthaḥ śakyo vicinvatā || 83.38 ||

"To him who has wealth, righteousness, pleasure and further wealth all come readily; but the penniless man, hungering and searching for wealth, cannot attain it.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.83.39)

हर्षः कामश्च दर्पश्च धर्मः क्रोधः शमो दमः। अर्थादेतानि सर्वाणि प्रवर्तन्ते नराधिप॥ 83.39 ॥

harṣaḥ kāmaśca darpaśca dharmaḥ krodhaḥ śamo damaḥ | arthādetāni sarvāṇi pravartante narādhipa || 83.39 ||

"O king, delight, desire, pride, virtue, anger, tranquility, and self-control — all of these proceed from wealth.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.83.40)

येषां नश्यत्ययं लोकश्चरतां धर्मचारिणाम्। तेऽर्थास्त्वयि न दृश्यन्ते दुर्दिनेषु यथा ग्रहाः॥ 83.40 ॥

yeṣāṃ naśyatyayaṃ lokaścaratāṃ dharmacāriṇām | te'rthāstvayi na dṛśyante durdineṣu yathā grahāḥ || 83.40 ||

"Those riches, without which even the worldly life of the righteous is lost, are nowhere to be seen in you now — like planets hidden on a clouded day.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.83.41)

त्वयि प्रव्रजिते वीर गुरोश् च वचने स्थिते। रक्षसापहृता भार्या प्राणैः प्रियतरा तव॥ 83.41 ॥

tvayi pravrajite vīra guroś ca vacane sthite | rakṣasāpahṛtā bhāryā prāṇaiḥ priyatarā tava || 83.41 ||

"O hero, while you went into exile, abiding by our father's word, your wife, dearer to you than life, was carried off by a demon.

Shloka 42 (yuddha.83.42)

तदद्य विपुलं वीर दुःखमिन्द्रजिता कृतम्। कर्मणा व्यपनेष्यामि तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ राघव॥ 83.42 ॥

tadadya vipulaṃ vīra duḥkhamindrajitā kṛtam | karmaṇā vyapaneṣyāmi tasmāduttiṣṭha rāghava || 83.42 ||

"That great sorrow which Indrajit has now caused, O hero, I shall dispel this very day through my own valor; therefore arise, O Rama!

Shloka 43 (yuddha.83.43)

उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल दीर्घबाहो धृतव्रत। किमात्मानं महात्मानं कृतात्मानं न बुध्यसे॥ 83.43 ॥

uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla dīrghabāho dhṛtavrata | kimātmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ kṛtātmānaṃ na budhyase || 83.43 ||

"Arise, O tiger among men, O mighty-armed, O steadfast in your vows! Why do you not recognize your own great, disciplined self?

Shloka 44 (yuddha.83.44)

अयमनघ तवोदितः प्रियार्थं जनकसुता निधनं निरीक्ष्य रुष्टः। सहयगजरथां सराक्षसेन्द्रां भृशमिषुभिर्विनिपातयामि लङ्काम्॥ 83.44 ॥

ayamanagha tavoditaḥ priyārthaṃ janakasutā nidhanaṃ nirīkṣya ruṣṭaḥ | sahayagajarathāṃ sarākṣasendrāṃ bhṛśamiṣubhirvinipātayāmi laṅkām || 83.44 ||

"O blameless one, roused in anger by the death of Janaka's daughter, I now rise for your sake: with my arrows I shall utterly lay waste Lanka, with its horses, elephants, chariots, and its demon-king."