Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 1
एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address
Night travel during exile departure; covering great distance
रामोऽपि रात्रिशेषेण तेनैव महदन्तरम् ।
जगाम पुरुषव्याघ्रः पितुराज्ञामनुस्मरन् ॥१॥
rāmo 'pi rātriśeṣeṇa tenaiva mahad antaram |
jagāma puruṣavyāghraḥ pitur ājñām anusmaran ||1||
राम भी रात के बाकी टाइम में चलता रहा। बहुत दूर तक गया। बाप का हुक्म याद था, इसलिए रुका नहीं। शेर जैसा इंसान था, हिम्मत में कोई कमी नहीं थी।
Sandhi Notes
- रामोऽपि = रामः + अपि
- तेनैव = तेन + एव
- महदन्तरम् = महत् + अन्तरम्
- पितुराज्ञाम् = पितुः + आज्ञाम्।
Recollecting his father's command, Rama, the foremost among men, covered a long distance during the remaining part of the night.
The teaching
Steady remembrance of rightful command sustains endurance; dharma is carried inward as smṛti even in hardship.
- Ethical theme
- Pitṛ-bhakti / rāja-dharma (obedience to lawful command)
For your practice
Meditation on dharma-smṛti: keeping a righteous vow in mind while acting; supports vrata and niyama practice.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Resolute, disciplined, dutiful
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya (truthfulness)
- Pitṛ-vākya-paripālana (obedience to father’s word)
- Tyāga (renunciation)
- Itihasa
Karma-yoga spirit: action performed as duty without attachment, guided by righteousness rather than personal comfort.
Taittirīya: satyaṃ vada, dharmaṃ cara—dharma as guiding remembrance; also the motif of inner smṛti sustaining right action.
Rātri
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son obeying father’s command (pitṛ-ājñā) (reverent obedience)
Mahābhārata: vows and obedience to elders as dharma (e.g., Bhīṣma’s vow motifs); Bhagavad Gītā 3.19 (duty without attachment)
Dharmaśāstra emphasis on pitṛ-ājñā
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.18-2.20 (departure sequence and resolve); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.20 (Rāma’s acceptance of exile as dharma)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Udātta-prāya with steady tempo (travel cadence)
FAQs
Dharma here is fidelity to one’s pledged duty and to a parent’s word: Rāma’s steady remembrance of his father’s command reflects satya and disciplined righteousness even under injustice.
After leaving Ayodhyā, Rāma continues traveling through the night as part of his exile journey.
Rāma’s steadfastness in truth and obedience—he does not waver from the command that sends him to hardship.
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