Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 22
गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्
Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt
नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् शरैस्सुपूर्णाविषुधी परन्तपः।महाद्धनु स्सज्यमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत्परितोऽस्य केवलम्।।।।
niyamya pṛṣṭhe tu talāṅgulitravān śaraiḥ supūrṇāv iṣudhī parantapaḥ |
mahād dhanuḥ sajyam upohya lakṣmaṇo niśām atiṣṭhat parito 'sya kevalam ||
敵を焼き尽くすラクシュマナは、掌と指に護具を着け、矢で満ちた二つの矢筒を背に負い、弦を張った大弓を構えて、夜通し—ただ一人—ラーマの周囲をくまなく警護して立ち続けた。
Here at the foot of the ingudi tree and upon that bed of grass both Rama and Sita rested that night.
FAQs
Protective duty as dharma: Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance shows that love is expressed as responsibility—guarding the vulnerable while they rest.
While Rāma and Sītā sleep, Lakṣmaṇa keeps armed watch throughout the night.
Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering loyalty and readiness to defend (bhakti, vīrya, apramāda).