Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 4

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

रात्रिं कथञ्चिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे।अपावर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमार्जितैः।।।।

Transliteration

rātriṃ kathañcidevemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe | apāvartāmahe bhūmāv āstīrya svayamārjitaiḥ ||

Translation

O Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), we must somehow pass this night; we shall lie down upon the ground, spreading what we ourselves have gathered.

Word by Word

• rātrim: night
• rātrim: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'vartayāmahe')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• kathañcit: somehow
• kathañcit: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म) (determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• saumitre: O Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• vartayāmahe: we will pass (the night)
• vartayāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + causative vartaya (णिच्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada

• apāvartāmahe: we will lie down
• apāvartāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-ā-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person, Plural, Ātmanepada; ‘we will lie down/turn back (to rest)’

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• āstīrya: having spread
• āstīrya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having spread’

• svayam: by ourselves
• svayam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), reflexive adverb

• ārjitaiḥ: with (things) procured
• ārjitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying implied 'tṛṇaiḥ/śayyā-dravyaiḥ' (things procured)

Context

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• ground (bhūmi)
• night (rātri)

FAQs

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

Dharma in exile means accepting hardship without complaint—choosing simplicity and self-reliance as part of righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

During the early phase of forest-exile, Rāma prepares to spend the night outdoors, instructing Lakṣmaṇa to accept the new conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Contentment and resilience: Rāma models calm acceptance and practical adaptation.