Valmiki Ramayana 2.51.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 8

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

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणस्तं तदोवाच रक्ष्यमाणास्त्वयानघ।नात्र भीता वयं सर्वे धर्ममेवानुपश्यता।।।।

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇas taṁ tadovāca rakṣyamāṇās tvayānagha |

nātra bhītā vayaṁ sarve dharmam evānupaśyatā ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ അവനോടു പറഞ്ഞു: “ഹേ നിർദോഷനേ! ധർമ്മത്തെ മുൻനിർത്തി നീ ഞങ്ങളെ കാത്തുകൊള്ളുന്നതിനാൽ ഇവിടെ ഞങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും ഭയപ്പെടുന്നില്ല.”

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• रक्ष्यमाणाः: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्/यमान-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वयम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनघ: O sinless one
• अनघ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here)

• भीताः: afraid
• भीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भावे कृदन्त (past participle: frightened), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वयम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वयम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धर्मम्: righteousness/duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• अनुपश्यता: while keeping in view
• अनुपश्यता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + पश्य् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी कृदन्त (present active participle: observing/keeping in view), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘त्वया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

I am seeking supreme fame in this world through the attainment of dharma and acquisition of abundant artha by the grace of Rama alone.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Guha
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Security is grounded in righteousness: protection offered by a dharmic person is trustworthy and fear-dispelling.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana responds to Guha’s pledge to guard Rama, expressing confidence because Guha is committed to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s discernment and trust in dharmic character rather than mere power.