Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 25

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

अपि सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन सार्धं कुशलिना वयम्।निवृत्ते वनवासेऽस्मिन्नयोध्यां प्रविशेमहि।।।।

Transliteration

api satyapratijñena sārdhaṁ kuśalinā vayam |

nivṛtte vanavāse 'sminn ayodhyāṁ praviśema hi ||

Translation

Will we ever enter Ayodhya again—once this forest-exile is completed—together with Rama, safe and steadfast in his vow of truth?

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/in that way')

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; (object of ब्रुवति)

• ब्रुवति: (he) speaks
• ब्रुवति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, 3rd Person, Singular

• प्रजाहिते: in the people-benefiting (prince)
• प्रजाहिते: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: प्रजायाः हितः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Locative, Singular (qualifying नरेन्द्रपुत्रे)

• नरेन्द्रपुत्रे: in/with the king's son
• नरेन्द्रपुत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/with locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + इन्द्र + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: नरेन्द्रस्य पुत्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गुरुसौहृदात्: from deep friendship
• गुरुसौहृदात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + सौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: गुरु + सौहृद (कर्मधारय: 'great friendship'); Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• गुहः: Guha
• गुहः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुमोच: released/shed
• मुमोच: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd Person, Singular

• बाष्पम्: tears
• बाष्पम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्यसनाभिपीडितः: oppressed by calamity
• व्यसनाभिपीडितः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यसन + अभि-पीडित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: व्यसनेन अभिपीडितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Nominative, Singular (qualifying गुहः)

• ज्वरातुरः: fever-stricken
• ज्वरातुरः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वर + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ज्वरेण आतुरः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नागः: elephant
• नागः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• व्यथातुरः: distressed with pain
• व्यथातुरः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यथा + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: व्यथया आतुरः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Wandering about in this forest all the time there is nothing unknown to me (here). We can withstand even a vast army of four divisions.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Ayodhya

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Satya (truth) as moral anchor: Rama’s reliability in keeping vows becomes the basis for hope and endurance during exile.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of exile, Lakshmana voices longing and uncertainty about returning to Ayodhya after the term is fulfilled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Faith in truthfulness—Lakshmana’s hope rests on Rama’s unwavering commitment to his pledged word.