Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 1

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

तं जाग्रतमदम्भेन भ्रातुरर्थाय लक्ष्मणम्।गुहः सन्तापसन्तप्तो राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

taṁ jāgratam adambhena bhrātur arthāya lakṣmaṇam |

guhaḥ santāpa-santapto rāghavaṁ vākyam abravīt || 2.51.1 ||

Translation

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa keeping vigil, awake and without any show, solely for his brother’s sake, Guha—burning with grief—spoke these words to Rāghava.

Word by Word

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जाग्रतम्: keeping awake
• जाग्रतम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जागृ (धातु) + जाग्रत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् (लक्ष्मणम्) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अदम्भेन: without deceit
• अदम्भेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भाव (without pretence)

• भ्रातुः: of (his) brother
• भ्रातुः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अर्थाय: for the sake
• अर्थाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; ‘for the sake of’

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• गुहः: Guha
• गुहः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सन्ताप-सन्तप्तः: afflicted by sorrow
• सन्ताप-सन्तप्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तप्त (कृदन्त, क्त; तप् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सन्तापेन सन्तप्तः = tormented by grief); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राघवम्: to Raghava (Rama)
• राघवम्: सम्प्रदान (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अब्रवीत् इत्यस्य सम्प्रदान/कर्म (addressed person)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अब्रवीत् इत्यस्य कर्म

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Rama, the best of men, crossed the auspicious land of Kosala which was worth seeing by kings. It looked charming with sacrificial posts and altars, pleasure gardens and mango groves and tanks filled with water. It was rich with herds of cattle, wealth and foodgrains. It was inhabited by charitable, contented and wellnourished people free from fear from any quarter. And it reverberated with the sounds of Vedic recitations.

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma as selfless service: Lakṣmaṇa’s wakefulness is portrayed as pure duty toward his brother, free from display or self-interest.

What is the narrative situation?

During the night halt, Guha notices Lakṣmaṇa guarding Rāma and Sītā; moved by this devotion, he addresses Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering loyalty and vigilance (seva + rakṣaṇa), and Guha’s empathetic sensitivity.