The poem "Lakshman" by Toru Dutt tells a story from the Hindu epic Ramayana where Sita unfairly takes advantage of Lakshman's loyal nature. In the poem, Sita accuses Lakshman of wanting to destroy Rama so he can marry Sita himself. This contrasts with Sita's portrayal as a dutiful wife in the Ramayana. The presentation of Sita as a more human woman who gives in to temptation reflects human nature more realistically compared to her idealized form in the epic. The poem adapts the mythical tale into a simple narrative using ordinary language while keeping Lakshman's high qualities consistent with the original.

1. Sita: Poetic Portraits
in Toru Dutt's
'Lakshman' and the
Ramayana”
Present by Mansi Gujadiya

2. Personal Information
Name:- Mansi B. Gujadiya
Roll No.:- 12
Enrollment Number:-4069206420220013
Sem :- 3 (M.A)
Paper No.:-201
Paper Code:-22406
Paper Name:Indian English Literature-Pre-Independence
Topic:-Sita: Poetic Portraits in Toru Dutt's 'Lakshman' and the
Ramayana”
Submitted to:- Department of English MKBU
Email:- mansigajjar10131@gmail.com

3. Introduction
● The poem "Lakshman" is from Dutt's Ancient
Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882). It tells
a story from the Hindu epic Ramayana,
● The poem is a simple conversation between Sita
and her brother-in-law.
● In a poem Sita takes rather an unfair advantage
of her staunch guardian’s noble nature. She
even goes to the extent of insulting Lakshman

4. Sita
Ramayan
● Sita has been first interpreted as an
ethereal mythological character and
then as a dutiful wife who had always
obliged to remain as a loyal and a
caring wife.
● Sita gets deeper and deeper into the
circles of patriarchy. The
lakshmanrekha, the supreme
metaphor for women’s restricted
movement

5. Sita as a human being
● Sita’s character in the poem ‘Lakshman’ may
not be strictly in keeping with her portrayal
in the Ramayana, but it is in accordance with
human nature, and shows the working of a
woman’s mind.
● In the poem she does not appear as an
idealized queen, but as a woman, who
behaves as a woman in her condition ought
to be. She acts impulsively and easily falls in
the trap laid down for her by Ravana, the
tricky and mighty king of Lanka.

6. ramayan and poem
तम् क्षिप्रम् अक्षिधाव त्वम् भ्रातरम् शरण एक्षिणम् ||
रिसाम् वशम् आपन्नम् क्षसिंहानाम् इव गोवृिम् |
"He might have come under the subjugation
of demons as with a bull coming under the
siege of lions, hence, you hurry up so as to
near such a brother of yours who is seeking
protection."

7. Ramayan and poem
इच्छक्षस त्वम् क्षवनश्यन्तम् रामम् लक्ष्मण मत् क
ृ ते ||
लोिात् तु मत् क
ृ तम् नूनम् न अनुगच्छक्षस राघवम् |
"Because of me you wish Rama to be
completely destroyed, and only because of
your cupidity for me you are not following up
on Raghava. It is definite.
"He perishes — well, let him die!
His wife henceforth shall be
mine own "!

8. Ramayan and poem
पन्नग असुर गन्धवव देव दानव रािसैः ||
अशक्यैः तव वदेही िताव जेतुम् न सिंशयैः
"Oh, Vaidehi, your husband is an impossible one for
vincibility by serpents, asura-s, gandharva-s, gods, fiends,
demons, no doubt about it.
Rakshasas, Danavs, demons, ghosts,
Acknowledge in their hearts his might,
And slink to their remotest coasts,
In terror at his very sight.
Evil to him! Oh fear it not,
Whatever foes against him rise!
Banish for aye the foolish thought,
And be thyself, — bold, great, and wise.

9. Parallel story
● There is a parallel
narrative like this in
Ramayana where Bali, the
ruler of the vanara
kingdom Kishkindha
ostracized his brother
Sugriva from his Kingdom
and forcibly took Sugriva’s
wife Ruma.
● In this poem Sita
things that Lakshman
being disloyal to his
brother”
● she accuses
Lakshman by telling
him that he wanted to
marry his brother’s
wife.

10. conclusion
● In this work, though Toru adopts the concept from the
original text of Ramayana by giving high reference to
nature, good and bad spirit but she penned Sita’s character
as of an ordinary woman.
● But the character of Lakshman replicates the original text,
like his high qualities and helplessness. This work by Toru
is a conversion of mythical tale to poem, which is in simple
narrative diction.

11. Reference
● , Desiraju Hanumanta Rao & K. M. K. Murthy. 1998-2008,
https://www.valmikiramayan.net/.
● MEENAKSHI T. “SITA- THE PROTECTED THREAT: A READING OF
TORU DUTT'S POEM “LAKSHMAN.”” Research Journal of English
Language and Literature (RJELAL), vol. 4, no. 2.2016, 2016, p. 4.
16C/900-903%20MEENAKSHI%20T.pdf/4.2.16C/900-903%20
MEENAKSHI%20T.pdf f. Accessed 2 Apr-Jun 2016.
● https://allpoetry.com/lakshman