Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 25

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम्

Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

जटाधरौ तौ द्रुमचीरवाससौ महाबलौ कुञ्जरयूथपोपमौ।वरेषुचापासिधरौ परन्तपौ व्यपेक्षमाणौ सह सीतया गतौ।।।।

Transliteration

jaṭādharau tau drumacīravāsasau mahābalau kuñjarayūthapopamau |

vareṣucāpāsidharau parantapau vyapekṣamāṇau saha sītayā gatau ||

Translation

Kedua beliau itu—berambut jaṭā, berselimut pakaian kulit kayu, berdaya besar laksana pemimpin kawanan gajah; memegang busur pilihan, anak panah, dan pedang; penakluk musuh—berangkat bersama Sītā, melangkah sambil waspada menilik sekeliling.

Word by Word

• जटाधरौ: the two wearing matted hair
• जटाधरौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटाधर (प्रातिपदिक; जटा + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• द्रुमचीरवाससौ: clad in bark garments
• द्रुमचीरवाससौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुमचीरवासस् (प्रातिपदिक; द्रुम-चीर + वासस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• महाबलौ: of great strength
• महाबलौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक; महा + बल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• कुञ्जरयूथपोपमौ: like leaders of elephant herds
• कुञ्जरयूथपोपमौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुञ्जर-यूथप-उपम (प्रातिपदिक; कुञ्जर + यूथप + उपम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• वरेषु: excellent (in/with the best)
• वरेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (locative used with following compound: 'in/with excellent...')

• चापासिधरौ: bearing bow and sword
• चापासिधरौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाप-असि-धर (प्रातिपदिक; चाप + असि + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• परन्तपौ: scorchers of foes
• परन्तपौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परन्तप (प्रातिपदिक; परम् + तप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• व्यपेक्षमाणौ: looking back (watchfully)
• व्यपेक्षमाणौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अप + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), प्रथमा, पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; 'looking back/looking around'

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Sahakāraka)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-सम्बन्धार्थक (with/along with)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: सहकारक (Sahakāraka)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• गतौ: went
• गतौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past participle), प्रथमा, पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; finite sense: 'went/had gone'

Context

Rama and Lakshmana, slayers of enemies, who are as strong as bull elephants, with their hair matted, wearing robes made of bark, armed with excellent bows, arrows and swords went along with Sita looking around (vigilantly).ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে ষডশীতিতমস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the eightysixth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is balanced living: they accept renunciation (jaṭā, bark robes) while maintaining vigilant readiness to protect Sītā and uphold righteousness in a dangerous world.

What is the narrative situation?

After crossing and adopting ascetic attire, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa proceed onward with Sītā, alert and prepared.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective vigilance and disciplined self-control—renunciant appearance joined with warrior responsibility.