Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 1

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53): Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Addressed to LakṣmaṇaSetting: near a tree on the forest route (temporary halt)Halt for evening observance before continuing/settling for night

Devanagari script

स तं वृक्षं समासाद्य सन्ध्यामन्वास्यपश्चिमाम् ।

रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठ इति होवाच लक्ष्मणम् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.1

Transliteration

sa taṃ vṛkṣaṃ samāsādya sandhyām anvāsya paścimām |

rāmo ramayatāṃ śreṣṭha iti hovāca lakṣmaṇam ||1||

Translation

वो पेड़ के पास पहुंचे। राम ने शाम की संध्या की, और लक्ष्मण से कहा कि मैं सबको सुख देने वाला हूँ।

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tam: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative, Singular; refers to 'vṛkṣam'
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (as determiner)

• vṛkṣam: tree
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'samāsādya')

• samāsādya: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having approached/reached’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• sandhyām: twilight worship
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'anvāsya')

• anvāsya: having performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-ā-√ās (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having performed/observed (worship)’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• paścimām: western (evening)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'sandhyām'
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ramayatām: of those who delight (others)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramayat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle stem used substantively; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन) (ramayatām = ‘of those who delight’); used as comparative set
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of 'rāmaḥ'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)

• iti: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)
• Role: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)

• ha: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• uvāca: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; addressee/object of speech
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)

Sandhi Notes

• सन्ध्यामन्वास्य → सन्ध्याम् + अन्वास्य
• होवाच → ha + uvāca (ह + उ → हो)

Context

On reaching the foot of the tree, Rama offered oblations to Sandhya of the west. And then he who is the best in keeping people in good humour said to Lakshmana:

The teaching

Even in exile, the noble maintain nitya-karma; adversity does not suspend righteousness.

Ethical theme

Ācāra-dharma / nitya-karma

Devotion and practice

Encourages daily sandhyā practice, twilight japa, and steadiness in routine as spiritual anchor during hardship.

Deity praised

Sāvitrī/Sūrya (implicit in sandhyā)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Ritual-calm, composed, attentive

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Nitya-karma (daily rites)
• Austerity
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sandhyā (evening rite)
• tree

FAQs

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

Dharma includes nitya-karma: even in exile and distress, Rāma maintains the discipline of daily sacred duties, showing that righteousness is steady practice, not convenience.

What is the narrative situation?

During the journey, they pause at evening; Rāma performs Sandhyā worship and then begins speaking to Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-control and religious steadiness—his commitment to duty remains unbroken despite personal loss.