Valmiki Ramayana 2.51.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 9

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

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

कथं दशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.51.9

Transliteration

kathaṁ dāśarathau bhūmau śayāne saha sītayā |

śakyā nidrā mayā labdhuṁ jīvitaṁ vā sukhāni vā ||

Translation

ദശരഥനന്ദനായ രാമൻ സീതയോടുകൂടെ നിർവസ്ത്രമായ ഭൂമിയിൽ ശയിക്കുമ്പോൾ, എനിക്ക് എങ്ങനെ നിദ്ര ലഭിക്കും? ജീവനും സുഖങ്ങളും എങ്ങനെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കാവുന്നതാകും?

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how)

• दाशरथौ: when the son of Dasharatha (Rama)
• दाशरथौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘दाशरथौ’ = दाशरथौ (रामे) इति स्थान/अवस्थावाचक

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शयाने: lying (asleep)
• शयाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले आत्मनेपदी कृदन्त (present middle participle: lying/sleeping), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दाशरथौ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like: with)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• शक्या: possible
• शक्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘निद्रा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (possible/feasible)

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: by me / for me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• लब्धुम्: to obtain
• लब्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive: to obtain)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र ‘शक्या (अस्ति)’ इत्यर्थे प्रथमा

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• सुखानि: pleasures
• सुखानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अत्र ‘शक्या (अस्ति)’ इत्यर्थे प्रथमा

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Context

I along with my kinsmen, bow in hand, will protect my dear friend, Rama with Sita from every side.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama (Dasarathi)
• Sita
• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma as empathetic solidarity: Lakshmana refuses personal comfort while Rama endures hardship, treating shared suffering as a moral obligation of love and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

During exile, Rama and Sita rest on the ground; Lakshmana, distressed, declares he cannot sleep or enjoy comfort while they suffer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-denial and unwavering fraternal devotion—Lakshmana’s readiness to forgo comfort out of duty and love.