Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 5

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

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

Devanagari script

स तु संविश्य मेदिन्यां महार्हशयनोचितः।इमाः सौमित्रये रामो व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu saṃviśya medinyāṃ mahārhaśayanocitaḥ | imāḥ saumitraye rāmo vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ ||

Translation

高価な寝台にふさわしい身でありながら、ラーマは大地に身を横たえ、サウミトリ（ラクシュマナ）に吉祥なる言葉を語った。

Word by Word

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

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• saṃviśya: having lain down
• saṃviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having lain down/entered (rest)’

• medinyām: on the ground
• medinyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• mahārha-śayana-ucitaḥ: fit for a costly bed
• mahārha-śayana-ucitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahārha (प्रातिपदिक) + śayana (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'rāmaḥ'

• imāḥ: these
• imāḥ: Karma (कर्म) (as determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying 'kathāḥ'

• saumitraye: to Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitraye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

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

• vyājahāra: uttered
• vyājahāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• kathāḥ: words, statements
• kathāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• śubhāḥ: auspicious/beneficial
• śubhāḥ: Karma (कर्म) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying 'kathāḥ'

Context

Rama who deserved a luxurious bed lay down on the ground and uttered these beneficial words to Lakshamana:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• earth/ground (medinī)

FAQs

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

True dharma is not status-dependent: one who is noble accepts austerity without losing moral clarity, and then instructs others for their good.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma settles on the ground for the night and begins speaking to Lakṣmaṇa, setting a reflective tone for their exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and leadership through example—Rāma teaches by first embodying restraint.