Always quiet and ready,
In path of devotion steady.
Soon just became his turn,
Stripes in dedication to earn.
Though only Rama to forest sent,
In a second Lakshmana with Him went.
Prepared for moment his whole life as if,
Like his arrows moved with Rama swift.
Younger brother I am too,
In behavior I try to follow you.
Carrying bow, walking so innocent,
In protecting Rama so magnificent.
Though your vision makes me cry,
To remember it I always try.
Strength comes from your resolve shown,
Knowledge of devotion you own.
With arrow ready in attention you sit,
Never an attack on Shri Rama to hit.
When on victory’s brink,
Of His brother Rama he thinks.
Relies on virtue’s strength,
For arrow to travel proper length.
Into the body of fiend to pierce,
Will of Sumitra’s son is fierce.
Though known for resolve strong,
To Rama only his heart belongs.
Towards that brother I go,
His name I’ll never let go.
That he follows Rama I like,
That vision a beacon of light.
Not known for much talking,
With Sita and Rama in forest walking.
His behavior to his qualities gives sound,
Undoubtedly the best brother around.
Though in goodness having few to none,
Any dedication in me from him has come.
Thanks to Lakshmana for staying in my mind,
In him all beauty, virtue and goodness to find.
Shri Rama you wish to insult?
Then face Lakshmana’s wrath as result.
With him disparaging remarks not to sit well,
Any bad word at Rama causes his anger to swell.
Just like in Janakpur that one time,
Where princes failed to lift bow in a line.
Host declared contest over, away everyone to send,
Lakshmana then wanted to try, the bow in half to rend.
These emotions raised for Rama’s honor to defend,
A helping hand Lakshmana always ready to lend.
Having such a glorious brother,
Makes Rama like no other.
In devotion to Him Lakshmana always alert,
The interests of Rama never to desert.
When arrives the time for sleep,
Instead attention for another to keep.
The same for when arriving time to eat,
At mealtime awaits patiently at his seat.
Eating or sleeping Rama first he must see,
Only then to act is Lakshmana free.
This is his vow personally adopted,
For service to Rama in life he opted.
Younger’s stature this superior makes,
Supreme delight from him Rama takes.
Their mutual love melts my heart too,
Lakshmana, the best brother this world ever knew.
Chanting Sita and Rama, devotion to them you took,
And then subsequently Lakshmana you overlooked.
Why such a darling brother would you forget,
Who in protecting Shri Rama has his heart set?
As a younger brother you should know what it’s like,
To have a protector, to be treated as the young tyke.
Your natural affection for elder came but from where,
If not from Lakshmana, Sumitra’s son ever so fair?
Just saying his name once pleases so much the heart,
Remember to remember him, from this day start.
So popular the Ramayana that it spawns many a tradition,
In one says that at end of war, Ravana did Lakshmana petition.
The vile king, his business always the saints to deceive,
Lakshmana took advice from him? That I cannot believe.
The emblem of devotion and knowledge is the brother of Shri Rama,
What could anyone teach him? Eternally wise the son of Sumitra.
During the fight in Lanka, Ravana dealt to Lakshmana a blow,
Seeing him lying on the ground, king tried to bring him in tow.
Lakshmana forever brilliant, while Ravana’s knowledge always dim,
So Lakshmana would not budge, king could not even move him.
Not a thing of this world to Shri Lakshmana is unknown,
Rama’s constant protector, complete knowledge he owns.
The enemies of the world, the Ravanas of today,
Listen to my advice, hear what I have to say.
Of all to have graced this earth, than Shri Lakshmana none more glorious,
Honor that beloved brother, and in life’s mission be victorious.
Bhakti Poems 