Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 23

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम्

Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

परिदेवयमानस्य तस्यैवं सुमहात्मनः।तिष्ठतो राजपुत्रस्य शर्वरी साऽत्यवर्तत।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.86.23

Transliteration

paridevayamānasya tasyaivaṃ sumahātmanaḥ |

tiṣṭhato rājaputrasya śarvarī sā 'tyavartata ||

Translation

Während jener hochherzige Königssohn dort stand und so klagte, verging die Nacht.

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Word by Word

• jaṭā-dharau: wearing matted hair
• jaṭā-dharau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: जटां धरतः (bearing matted hair)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; pronoun for the two

• druma-cīra-vāsasau: clad in bark garments
• druma-cīra-vāsasau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: druma (प्रातिपदिक) + cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: द्रुमचीरं वासः यस्य (wearing bark-cloth garments)

• mahābalau: mighty
• mahābalau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (पूर्वपद) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय: महत् बलं यस्य

• kuñjara-yūthapa-upamau: like leaders of elephants
• kuñjara-yūthapa-upamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक) + yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: कुञ्जरयूथपेन उपमौ (comparable to elephant-leaders)

• vara-iṣu-cāpa-asi-dharau: bearing fine arrows, bow and sword
• vara-iṣu-cāpa-asi-dharau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣu (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: वरान् इषून् चापं असिं च धरतः (bearing excellent arrows, bow, sword)

• parantapau: tormenters of enemies
• parantapau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + √tap (धातु) > tapu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: परान् तापयतः (scorchers of foes)

• vyapēkṣamāṇau: looking back watchfully
• vyapēkṣamāṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-apa-√īkṣ (धातु) > vyapēkṣamāṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present middle participle): ‘looking back/being watchful’

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (with)

• sītayā: with Sita
• sītayā: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह), एकवचन

• gatau: went
• gatau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) > gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used as finite-like predicate; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘went/had gone’

Context

While the high-minded prince was lamenting this way and was waiting, the night passed off.

FAQs

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

Dharma includes endurance: even the righteous may grieve, yet time moves on and duty must be carried forward despite sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

The text marks the passage of the night while the prince remains in sorrow and waiting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Inner greatness (mahātmatā) shown through bearing emotional pain without abandoning the path of duty.