Valmiki Ramayana 2.87.22 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 22
गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्
Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt
नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् शरैस्सुपूर्णाविषुधी परन्तपः।महाद्धनु स्सज्यमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत्परितोऽस्य केवलम्।।।।
niyamya pṛṣṭhe tu talāṅgulitravān śaraiḥ supūrṇāv iṣudhī parantapaḥ |
mahād dhanuḥ sajyam upohya lakṣmaṇo niśām atiṣṭhat parito 'sya kevalam ||
Lakṣmaṇa, der Feinde Versenger, mit Schutz an Handfläche und Fingern, zwei mit Pfeilen gefüllte Köcher auf dem Rücken, hielt den großen, bereits gespannten Bogen bereit und stand die ganze Nacht—allein—Wache, Rāma ringsum behütend.
Here at the foot of the ingudi tree and upon that bed of grass both Rama and Sita rested that night.
FAQs
Protective duty as dharma: Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance shows that love is expressed as responsibility—guarding the vulnerable while they rest.
While Rāma and Sītā sleep, Lakṣmaṇa keeps armed watch throughout the night.
Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering loyalty and readiness to defend (bhakti, vīrya, apramāda).
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