Valmiki Ramayana 2.51.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः · Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Spoken by Guha to LakshmanaSetting: Śṛṅgiverapura / Gaṅgā-tīra vicinityPlaces named: Gaṅgā, ŚṛṅgiverapuraNight halt during exile journey

Devanagari script

न हि रामात्प्रियतमो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन ।

ब्रवीम्येतदहं सत्यं सत्येनैव च ते शपे ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.51.4

Transliteration

na hi rāmāt priyatamo mamāsti bhuvi kaścana |

bravīmy etad ahaṁ satyaṁ satyenaiva ca te śape ||4||

Translation

എനിക്ക് ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ രാമനേക്കാൾ പ്രിയനായ മറ്റാരുമില്ല. ഞാൻ ഇത് സത്യമായി പറയുന്നു; സത്യത്തെയേ സാക്ഷിയാക്കി നിന്നോടു ശപഥം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)
• Role: निपात

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)
• Role: निपात

• रामात्: than Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; तुलना-प्रयोग (than Rama)
• Role: अपादान (Ablative of comparison)

• प्रियतमः: dearer (most dear)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियतम (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कश्चन इत्यस्य विशेषण
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण

• मम: to me / of me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया

• भुवि: in the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भू-स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन
• Role: अधिकरण

• कश्चन: anyone
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चन (निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रत्यय (indefinite pronoun)
• Role: कर्ता

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया

• एतत्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ब्रवीमि इत्यस्य कर्म
• Role: कर्म

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

• सत्यम्: truth
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; एतत् इत्यस्य विधेय/अप्पोजिशन
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण (Object complement)

• सत्येन: by truth
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण-भाव (by truth)
• Role: करण

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (restrictive particle: ‘only/indeed’)
• Role: निपात

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)
• Role: निपात

• ते: to you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative) एकवचन (to you)
• Role: सम्प्रदान

• शपे: I swear
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: क्रिया

Sandhi Notes

• रामात्प्रियतमो = रामात् + प्रियतमः
• ममास्ति = मम + अस्ति
• ब्रवीम्येतदहं = ब्रवीमि + एतत् + अहम्
• सत्येनैव = सत्येन + एव

Context

For me, there is none dearer than Rama in this world. I speak the truth. I swear by truth.

The teaching

Truthful speech and steadfast affection are the ground of trustworthy alliance.

Ethical theme

Satya / loyalty

Devotion and practice

Encourages satya-vrata and single-hearted devotion; useful for cultivating integrity in bhakti and friendship.

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

सत्येनैव च ते शपे

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Affectionate, solemn, truth-bound

Themes

• Satya
• Dharma
• Friendship
• Oath
• Devotion

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Lakshmana
• Rama

FAQs

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

Satya as dharma: truthfulness is treated as sacred, strong enough to serve as the very basis of an oath.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha reassures Lakshmana of his unwavering attachment and allegiance to Rama, pledging it with an oath of truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and steadfast friendship—Guha binds his loyalty through satya.