Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 96: Lakṣmaṇa Notices Bharata’s Army
Text 2.96.32
शराणां धनुषश्चाहमनृणोऽस्मि महामृधे।
ससैन्यं भरतं हत्वा भविष्यामि न संशयः॥
śarāṇāṁ dhanuṣaś cāham anṛṇo ’smi mahā-mṛdhe
sasainyaṁ bharataṁ hatvā bhaviṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ
śarāṇām dhanuṣaḥ ca = to My bows and arrows; aham = I; anṛṇaḥ asmi = become free from My debt; mahā-mṛdhe = in a great battle; sasainyam = and His army; bharatam hatvā = having slain Bharata; bhaviṣyāmi = will; na saṁśayaḥ = undoubtedly.
Having slain Bharata and His army in a great battle, I will undoubtedly become free from My debt to My bow and arrows.
[1] vaśābhiprāyayoś chandaḥ (Vaijayantī).
[2] vyāghrādayo vanacarāḥ paśavaḥ śvāpadā matāḥ (Halāyudha).
[3] mṛdham āskandanaṁ saṅkhyam (Amara).
[4] kaluṣaṁ vṛjinainogham aṁho-durita-duṣkṛtam (Amara).
[Lakṣmaṇa wanted to convey this:] “I have discharged My debt to My bows and arrows in war here and there in the past. I will now discharge My debt [to My bows and arrows] in the impending great war by killing Bharata and His army.”
It has already been stated that even before Rāma’s exile to the forest He had conquered Śambara’s son and so on. Since Lakṣmaṇa was His constant companion, [it is understood that Lakṣmaṇa had participated] in [that] war. Lakṣmaṇa implies here that Rāma was already aware of Lakṣmaṇa’s prowess [in battle].
GLOSS. By discharging His debt to His weapons, Lakṣmaṇa would make them useful [for His purposes].