Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 96
गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्
Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs
पृष्ठतोऽहं गमिष्यामि त्वां च सीतां च पालयन्।अन्योन्यस्येह नो रक्षा कर्तव्या पुरुषर्षभ।।2.52.96।।
pṛṣṭhato 'haṃ gamiṣyāmi tvāṃ ca sītāṃ ca pālayan | anyonyasyeha no rakṣā kartavyā puruṣarṣabha || 2.52.96 ||
ನಾನು ಹಿಂದೆ ನಡೆದು, ನಿನ್ನನ್ನೂ ಸೀತೆಯನ್ನೂ ಕಾಪಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಹೇ ಪುರುಷರ್ಷಭ, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಪರಸ್ಪರರ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.
O best of men, I will follow you and Sita and keep watch. We must ensure mutual protection.
FAQs
Reciprocal duty: protection is not one-sided; dharma in adversity is collective—each safeguards the other to uphold righteousness and safety.
Rāma finalizes their marching formation: Lakṣmaṇa in front, Sītā behind him, and Rāma at the rear as guard.
Rāma’s self-assuming responsibility—he takes the rear position to shield the group, modeling protective leadership.