Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 2

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Outskirts of Ayodhya / road leading away from Ayodhya (exile departure route)Places named: AyodhyaEarly departure at daybreak, moving away from the city

Devanagari script

भास्करोदयकालोऽयं गता भगवती निशा ।

असौ सुकृष्णो विहगः कोकिलस्तात कूजति ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.2

Transliteration

bhāskarodayakālo 'yaṃ gatā bhagavatī niśā |

asau sukṛṣṇo vihagaḥ kokilas tāta kūjati ||2||

Translation

भाई, रात गुज़र गई है, अब सूरज निकलने का टाइम हो गया। देख, वो काला पक्षी, वो कोकिला, गाना गा रहा है।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• भास्करोदयकालः: the time of sunrise
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर + उदय + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्भव): भास्करस्य उदयः तस्य कालः; पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—nominal predicate)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अयम्: this (is)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• गता: has passed/is gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle): गत; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘निशा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण, अर्थे ‘अतीता/समाप्ता’
• Role: क्रिया-सम्बन्ध (Predicative participle)

• भगवती: venerable/august
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—qualifier)

• निशा: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• असौ: that (there)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• सुकृष्णः: very dark
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: सु + कृष्ण; पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• विहगः: bird
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• कोकिलः: cuckoo
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विहगः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• तात: dear one (O dear Lakshmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Vocative address), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative singular)
• Role: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)

• कूजति: sings/coos
• Type: Verb
• Root: कूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

Sandhi Notes

• कालोऽयम् = कालः + अयम् (visarga sandhi)
• कोकिलस्तात = कोकिलः + तात (visarga sandhi)

Context

O dear Lakshmana! the holy night is over and it is time for sunrise. The deep dark bird, the cuckoo is singing.

The teaching

Attend to time and circumstance with composure; nature’s rhythms accompany righteous resolve.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (right conduct / situational propriety)

For your practice

Mindfulness at liminal times (dawn) supports steadiness in vows and renunciation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Dawn-calm, awakening, gentle

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Mindfulness
• Forest life
• Auspicious time

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• forest (implicit)
• kokila (cuckoo)

FAQs

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

Dharma in exile includes disciplined living and attentiveness to time and duty; Rama models orderly conduct even in hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

At dawn in the forest setting, Rama notes the end of night and the signs of morning, addressing Lakshmana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s composure and mindful leadership: he remains calm, observant, and purposeful despite displacement.