Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 16

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

मा स्म मत्कारणाद्देवी सुमित्रा दुःखमावसेत्।अयोध्यामित एव त्वं काल्ये प्रविश लक्ष्मण।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.16

Transliteration

mā sma matkāraṇād devī sumitrā duḥkham āvaset |

ayodhyām ita eva tvaṁ kālye praviśa lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

Lakṣmaṇa, jangan sampai Dewi Sumitrā menanggung duka karena diriku; maka kembalilah dari sini juga dan masuklah ke Ayodhyā esok pagi.

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Word by Word

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (prohibitive particle)

• स्म: (prohibitive marker)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-प्रयोगे सहायक निपात (with mā; prohibitive)

• मत्कारणात्: because of me
• मत्कारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-सम्बन्धी) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मम कारणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• देवी: the lady (mother)
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्नेह/सम्मानवाचक

• सुमित्रा: Sumitra
• सुमित्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आवसेत्: should dwell in/experience
• आवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अयोध्याम्: to Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• इतः: from here
• इतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (from here)

• एव: indeed, right
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (just/indeed)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• काल्ये: in the morning
• काल्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कालवाचक (in the morning)

• प्रविश: enter
• प्रविश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

I shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest and you be the protector of the helpless, Kausalya.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sumitra
• Ayodhya

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsibility toward parents: Rama prioritizes preventing needless grief to Sumitra and urges Lakshmana to uphold filial care even amid crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

On the way into exile, Rama attempts to dissuade Lakshmana from accompanying him, directing him instead to return to Ayodhya for Sumitra’s welfare.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Consideration and moral accountability: Rama feels responsible for the emotional consequences his exile creates for others.