The Ramayana narrates the graceful march of its protagonist, Rama— a march that reflects a judicious combination of static tranquility and dynamic adaptability—in search of good conduct, good heart, goodwill, good words, and a good world worth living in. A careful analysis of this march of Rama, however, reveals that Lakshmana, his brother, played a pivotal role in the elevation and elegance of this ideal persona of Rama. Sacrificing his personal comforts, indeed displaying indifference toward earthly pleasures, Lakshmana remains steadfast— even in the face of unkindness and unreasonableness—in his devotion to Rama and his wife, Sita. He simply loved Rama “with the possessive loyalty of a mother.” And, having invited this course of life on his own, Lakshmana, surrendering his life to Rama, distinguishes himself adorned by “Pratishtha,” the ultimate human dignity, by conducting himself as “lak mivardhana”—causing prosperity to grow—of Rama, and that is what this paper attempts to examine |