Shloka 2.51.7
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament (Night on the riverbank)
न हि मेऽविदितं किञ्चिद्वनेऽस्मिंश्चरतस्सदा।चतुरङ्गं ह्यपिबलं सुमहत्प्रसहेमहि।।।।
api satyapratijñena sārdhaṁ kuśalinā vayam |
nivṛtte vanavāse 'sminn ayodhyāṁ praviśema hi ||
Will we ever enter Ayodhya again, when this forest-exile is ended, together with Rama—safe and steadfast in his vow of truth?
Wandering about in this forest all the time there is nothing unknown to me (here). We can withstand even a vast army of four divisions.
Satya (truth) as moral anchor: Rama’s reliability in keeping vows becomes the basis for hope and endurance during exile.
In the midst of exile, Lakshmana voices longing and uncertainty about returning to Ayodhya after the term is fulfilled.
Faith in truthfulness—Lakshmana’s hope rests on Rama’s unwavering commitment to his pledged word.