Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 8

चित्रकूटगमनम् तथा पर्णशालाप्रवेशः

Arrival at Chitrakuta and Establishing the Leaf-Hut

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Forest near the Gaṅgā region on the exile routePlaces named: GaṅgāResource-assessment while moving/settling after Gaṅgā vicinity

Devanagari script

पश्य द्रोणप्रमाणानि लम्बमानानि लक्ष्मण ।

मधूनि मधुकारीभि स्सम्भृतानि नगे नगे ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.56.8

Transliteration

paśya droṇa-pramāṇāni lambamānāni lakṣmaṇa |

madhūni madhukārībhiḥ sambhṛtāni nage nage ||8||

Translation

लक्ष्मण, देखो। शहद की मखियाँ पेड़ पर पेड़ पर लटकी हैं। इतनी बड़ी हैं जैसे बड़ा सा बर्तन। मक्खियों ने शहद भर के रखा है।

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Word by Word

• paśya: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ, Madhyama, Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)

• droṇa-pramāṇāni: of droṇa-measure (very large)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: droṇa + pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa ‘having the measure of a droṇa’ used adjectivally
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• lambamānāni: hanging down
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lambamāna (कृदन्त; √lamb धातु)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; śatṛ-pratyaya present participle (लट्-कृदन्त)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakṣmaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana
• Role: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)

• madhūni: honeys
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karma (Object/कर्म)

• madhukārībhiḥ: by bees
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhukārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)

• sambhṛtāni: collected, stored
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-bhṛta (कृदन्त; √bhṛ धातु)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; past passive participle (क्त)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)

• nage: in a tree
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)

• nage: in each tree
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; repetition for distributive sense
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)

Sandhi Notes

• madhukārībhi ssambhṛtāni → madhukārībhiḥ sambhṛtāni
• nage nage is distributive repetition ‘in every tree’

Context

O Lakshmana! see the honeycombs of the size of wooden vessels crowded by the honeybees hanging down from every tree.

The teaching

Dharma in exile includes prudent observation of resources and living without burdening society; nature’s stores support disciplined life.

Ethical theme

Vyavahāra-nīti (practical ethics)

For your practice

Encourages mindful gratitude for ‘madhu’ (essence/sweetness) in life; supports contemplations on annam and moderation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Wondering, abundant, settled

Themes

• Dharma
• Forest-life
• Providence
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Trust in rightful living: when one follows dharma, one learns to rely on honest, non-exploitative means of sustenance, recognizing nature’s provisions without greed.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues to point out plentiful forest resources (honeycombs) to show that survival in exile is feasible.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and leadership: Rāma encourages Lakṣmaṇa by calmly evaluating resources and guiding the group’s next steps.