Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 9

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

त्वया कार्यं नरव्याघ्र मामनुव्रजता कृतम्।अन्वेष्टव्या हि वैदेह्या रक्षणार्थे सहायता।।2.46.9।।

Transliteration

tvayā kāryaṃ naravyāghra mān anuvrajatā kṛtam | anvēṣṭavyā hi vaidehyā rakṣaṇārthe sahāyatā || 2.46.9 ||

Translation

人中の虎よ、汝が我に従い同行したのはまことに相応しい行いであった。さもなくば、ヴァイデーヒーを守るための助けを求めねばならなかったであろう。

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/instrument, agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कार्यम्: a duty/deed
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object; ‘a deed’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्य-प्रत्यय/‘to be done’ sense, here noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरव्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• नरव्याघ्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (naraṇāṃ vyāghraḥ)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अनुव्रजता: (by you) accompanying
• अनुव्रजता: Karta (कर्ता/agent of accompanying; qualifies ‘you’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘while accompanying’

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate via participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘done’ (agrees with कार्यम्)

• अन्वेष्टव्या: must be sought
• अन्वेष्टव्या: Karya (कार्य/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + इष्/एष् (धातु; √इष्/एष् ‘to seek’)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्; gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be sought’ (agrees with वैदेह्या)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• वैदेह्या: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्या: Karma (कर्म; object to be sought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षणार्थे: for protection
• रक्षणार्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/उद्देश्य (rakṣaṇāya arthaḥ) = ‘for the purpose of protection’

• सहायता: help/assistance
• सहायता: Karta (कर्ता; ‘assistance’ as required)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहायता (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

You, O Lakshmana, the best among men, have done a good job by accompanying me. Otherwise assistance for Sita's protection would have been sought (necessary).

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Vaidehi (Sita)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective responsibility: ensuring the safety of the vulnerable (Sītā) and fulfilling one’s duty through timely support (Lakṣmaṇa’s accompaniment).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama acknowledges that Lakshmana’s decision to accompany him is crucial, because it directly strengthens Sita’s protection during their uncertain journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s steadfast loyalty and service (sevā-bhāva), expressed as practical, duty-driven companionship.