Text 2.23.25 | Lakṣmaṇa’s Arguments | Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa | Śri Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa) | Books

Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 23: Lakṣmaṇa’s ArgumentsText 2.23.25

Canto 2 -

Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa

Chapter 23: Lakṣmaṇa’s Arguments

Text 2.23.25

ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम्।
आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि॥

ūrdhvaṁ varṣa-sahasrānte prajāpālyam anantaram
ārya-putrāḥ kariṣyanti vana-vāsaṁ gate tvayi

ūrdhvam = later; varṣa-sahasra-ante = after thousands of years; prajāpālyam = protect the citizens; anantaram = after; ārya-putrāḥ = Your Highness’s sons; kariṣyanti = will; vana-vāsam = to reside in the forest; gate = go; tvayi = you.

Later, after thousands of years, after You go to reside in the forest, Your Highness’s sons will protect the citizens.¹

Lakṣmaṇa now asserts that Bharata will never ever get the kingdom.

“When You go to the forest” means “When You enter the vānaprastha-āśrama.”¹

¹ The word ārya is generally used in third person to indicate great respect. Therefore, we have rendered it as “Your Highness.”

¹ The verse then means: “Later, after thousands of years, when You enter the vānaprastha-āśrama, Your Highness’s sons will protect the citizens.”