Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 2

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

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

Devanagari script

अद्येयं प्रथमा रात्रिर्याता जनपदाद्बहिः।या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता तां नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

adyeyaṁ prathamā rātrir yātā janapadād bahiḥ |

yā sumantreṇa rahitā tāṁ notkaṇṭhitum arhasi ||

Translation

هذه أوّلُ ليلةٍ نقضيها خارجَ ديارِ الناس، ومن دونِ سومانترَا؛ ومع ذلك فلا يليقُ بك أن تستسلمَ للقلق.

Word by Word

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• prathamā: first
• prathamā: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'rātriḥ'

• rātriḥ: night
• rātriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• yātā: will be spent/has passed
• yātā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (as participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yā (धातु) + yāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta-participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate with 'rātriḥ' (to be spent/has gone)

• janapadāt: from the inhabited region
• janapadāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• yā: which
• yā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular; refers to 'rātriḥ'

• sumantreṇa: with Sumantra
• sumantreṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• rahitā: devoid of, without
• rahitā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective with 'yā (rātriḥ)'

• tām: that (night)
• tām: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'utkaṇṭhitum')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular; refers to that night

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• utkaṇṭhitum: to feel anxious/longing
• utkaṇṭhitum: Kriyārtha (क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√kaṇṭh (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to long for/be anxious’

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

Context

O Lakshmana, because of me mother Sumitra should not live in sorrow. Therefore, tomorrow morning go back to Ayodhya from here itself.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sumantra
• Ayodhya (implied by departure context)

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in dharma: Rama models mental discipline—enduring hardship without agitation—so that right conduct is not shaken by discomfort or fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama and Lakshmana have left the city and must spend their first night outside settled habitation, without their charioteer Sumantra; Rama reassures Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and composure (dhairya): Rama encourages calm acceptance of exile’s practical hardships.