Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 2

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम् · Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Setting: Ayodhya palace quarters (contextual)

Devanagari script

तं जाग्रतं गुणैर्युक्तं शरचापासिधारिणम् ।

भ्रातृगुप्त्यर्थमत्यन्तमहं लक्ष्मणमबृवम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.86.2

Transliteration

taṃ jāgrataṃ guṇair yuktaṃ śaracāpāsidhāriṇam |

bhrātṛguptyartham atyantam ahaṃ lakṣmaṇam abruvam ||2||

Translation

ខ្ញុំបានឃើញព្រះលក្ខមណ៍ភ្ញាក់ពេញលេញ—ប្រកបដោយគុណធម៌—កាន់ព្រួញ ធ្នូ និងដាវ ដើម្បីការពារបងប្រុសតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ; ហើយខ្ញុំបាននិយាយទៅកាន់ព្រះអង្គ។

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Word by Word

• तम्: him (that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Object/कर्म)

• जाग्रतम्: awake, vigilant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जागृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘being awake/keeping vigil’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)

• गुणैः: with virtues
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन
• Role: करण (Instrument/करण)

• युक्तम्: endowed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed/connected’
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)

• शरचापासिधारिणम्: holding arrows, bow, and sword
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर-चाप-असि-धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; शर + चाप + असि + धारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (शर-चाप-असि) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (धारिन् = धारयति इति)
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• भ्रातृगुप्त्यर्थम्: for the protection of (his) brother
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ-गुप्ति-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; भ्रातृ + गुप्ति + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/उद्देश्य), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—भ्रातुः गुप्त्यर्थम् ‘for the purpose of protecting (his) brother’
• Role: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अत्यन्तम्: completely, exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Object/कर्म)

• अब्रुवम्: I said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• गुणैर्युक्तम् = गुणैः + युक्तम् (विसर्ग-लोपः)
• अत्यन्तमहं = अत्यन्तम् + अहम् (म् + अ → म)

Context

I spoke to the virtuous Lakshmana, who was holding arrows, bow and sword in his hand and keeping awake completely for the protection of his brother.

The teaching

In times of uncertainty, the righteous rely on vigilant guardianship; devotion expresses itself as readiness to protect.

Ethical theme

Kṣātra-dharma / rakṣā

How it resolves

Protective-action

For your practice

Models sevā as alertness and responsibility; encourages disciplined vigilance (apramāda).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Vigilant, resolute, brotherly devotion

Themes

• Dharma
• Fraternal duty
• Protection
• Vigilance
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as fraternal responsibility: Lakṣmaṇa’s righteousness is expressed through vigilant protection of his elder brother, placing duty above personal comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha describes the night when Lakṣmaṇa remains awake with weapons, guarding Rāma during their forest journey, and Guha speaks to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfast loyalty and alert guardianship—discipline, readiness, and selfless service.