Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.99 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 99

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनं प्रतस्थे लक्ष्मणोऽग्रतः।अनन्तरं च सीताया राघवो रघुनन्दनः।।2.52.99।।

Transliteration

śrutvā rāmasya vacanaṃ pratasthē lakṣmaṇo ’grataḥ | anantaraṃ ca sītāyā rāghavo raghunandanaḥ ||2.52.99||

Translation

രാമന്റെ വചനം കേട്ട് ലക്ഷ്മണൻ മുന്നിൽ പുറപ്പെട്ടു; തുടർന്ന് രഘുകുലാനന്ദനായ രാഘവൻ സീതയുടെ പിന്നിൽ പിന്നിൽ നടന്നു.

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा/absolutive), avyaya

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pratasthē: set out
• pratasthē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (in front)

• anantaram: afterwards/behind
• anantaram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverb: afterwards/behind)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta

• sītāyāḥ: of Sita
• sītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive; 'after Sita')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; implied 'went')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• raghu-nandanaḥ: delight of the Raghus
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to rāghavaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'delight of Raghu (line)'

Context

Having heard the words of Rama, Lakshmana went ahead and Rama, delight of the Raghus, walked behind Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava, Raghunandana)
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective propriety: the brothers arrange their positions to safeguard Sītā, reflecting duty of care and respectful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The trio begins moving in a deliberate formation: Lakṣmaṇa leading, Sītā in the middle, Rāma behind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s service and vigilance, and Rāma’s guardianship—both express responsibility toward Sītā.