Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.51: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 51

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

त्वत्कृते न मयाऽवाप्तं रथचर्याकृतं सुखम् ।

आशंसे त्वत्कृते नाहं वनवासकृतं सुखम् ॥५१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.51

Transliteration

tvatkṛte na mayāvāptaṃ rathacaryākṛtaṃ sukham |

āśaṃse tvatkṛte nāhaṃ vanavāsakṛtaṃ sukham ||51||

Translation

Durch deine Gnade durfte ich einst die Freude genießen, deinen Wagen zu lenken; und durch dieselbe Gnade hoffe ich, selbst im Waldaufenthalt während deines Exils Freude zu finden.

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Word by Word

• tvat-kṛte: for your sake
• tvat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (हेतौ/निमित्ते) 'त्वत्कृते' = 'for your sake'; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-आधारित अव्ययप्रयोग

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया/Instrumental), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• avāptam: obtained / experienced
• avāptam: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1/2, वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'सुखम्' इति विशेष्येण सह

• ratha-caryā-kṛtam: produced by chariot-driving
• ratha-caryā-kṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + caryā (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (ratha-caryā = 'chariot-driving') + तत्पुरुषः (caryā-kṛta = 'made by driving'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1/2, वचनम् एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (sukham)

• sukham: pleasure
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1/2, वचनम् एकवचनम्

• āśaṃse: I hope / I look forward
• āśaṃse: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्; पुरुषः 1, वचनम् एकवचनम्; अर्थः 'आशंस्' = 'to hope/expect'

• tvat-kṛte: for your sake
• tvat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (हेतौ) पुनरुक्तम्

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा/Nominative), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• vana-vāsa-kṛtam: produced by forest-dwelling
• vana-vāsa-kṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (vana-vāsa = 'forest-dwelling') + तत्पुरुषः (vāsa-kṛta = 'made by dwelling'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1/2, वचनम् एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (sukham)

• sukham: pleasure
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया) (आशंसे इत्यस्य कर्म), वचनम् एकवचनम्

Context

By your grace I experienced the pleasure of driving your chariot, and by your grace, too, I am looking forward to deriving the pleasure of dwelling in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• ratha (chariot)
• vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is loyal service (seva) to the righteous master: Sumantra treats Rama’s hardship as an opportunity to continue duty with devotion, valuing righteousness over comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama is preparing for forest exile, Sumantra pleads to accompany him, reframing exile as meaningful because it allows continued service.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s steadfast loyalty and willingness to embrace hardship for the sake of duty and affection toward Rama.