Valmiki Ramayana 2.87.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 20

गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्

Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्समाविशद्राम स्स्वास्तरे सह सीतया।प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादावपचक्राम लक्ष्मणः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.87.20

Transliteration

tasmin samāviśad rāmaḥ svāstare saha sītayā |

prakṣālya ca tayoḥ pādāv apacakrāma lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ಆ ಶಯನದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಮನು ಸೀತೆಯೊಡನೆ ಮಲಗಿದನು. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನು ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರ ಪಾದಗಳನ್ನು ತೊಳೆದು, ನಂತರ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಿದು ನಿಂತನು.

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Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: on that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/where)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाविशत्: entered, lay down
• समाविशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वास्तरे: on the bed
• स्वास्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/where)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + आस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष

• सह: with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (with)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahartha (सहार्थ/companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund in -ya), पूर्वकाल

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• तयोः: of the two (their)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual), सर्वनाम

• पादौ: feet (two)
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्रक्षाल्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अपचक्राम: withdrew, went away
• अपचक्राम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

The delicate, youthful, highly energetic and mighty-armed Bharata of graceful appearance, with shoulders like that of a lion and wide-eyed like lotus petals, recovered for a moment and with a mind deeply distressed fell down at once like an elephant smitten by a goad.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Respectful service and protection: Lakṣmaṇa combines personal attendance (washing feet) with readiness for duty (withdrawing to keep watch).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Sītā settle to rest; Lakṣmaṇa attends them and prepares to guard.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s humility and vigilant responsibility.