Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 1

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम्

Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

आचचक्षेऽथ सद्भावं लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः।भरतायाप्रमेयाय गुहो गहनगोचरः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.86.1

Transliteration

ācacakṣe ’tha sadbhāvaṃ lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | bharatāyāprameyāya guho gahanagocaraḥ ||

Translation

Alors Guha, familier des voies de la forêt, raconta à Bharata, d’une valeur incommensurable, la noble nature et les vertus du magnanime Lakṣmaṇa.

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Word by Word

• आचचक्षे: told/explained
• आचचक्षे: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: निपात (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle) क्रमवाचक

• सद्भावम्: good nature, true disposition
• सद्भावम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणस्य: of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—लक्ष्मणस्य

• भरताय: to Bharata
• भरताय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• अप्रमेयाय: to the immeasurable (in virtues)
• अप्रमेयाय: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—भरताय

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

• गहनगोचरः: forest-ranging
• गहनगोचरः: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन-गोचर (प्रातिपदिक; गहन + गोचर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—गहने गोचरः ‘moving in the forest/deep woods’

Context

Then Guha, the forest ranger, described to Bharata the countless qualities of the good-natured, magnanimous Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Bharata
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed through truthful witness and righteous praise: Guha reports Lakṣmaṇa’s character to Bharata, helping align judgment with reality rather than rumor or suspicion.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata has reached the forest region seeking Rāma; Guha, who has observed the brothers closely, begins describing Lakṣmaṇa’s conduct and qualities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s sadbhāva—steadfast goodness and loyal service—presented as a visible, lived virtue worthy of testimony.