Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 17

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53): Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

अहमेको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान् ।

अनाथाया हि नाथस्त्वं कौशल्याया भविष्यसि ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.17

Transliteration

aham eko gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān |

anāthāyā hi nāthas tvaṁ kauśalyāyā bhaviṣyasi ||17||

Translation

ഞാൻ സീതയോടുകൂടെ ഏകാകിയായി ദണ്ഡകാരണ്യത്തിലേക്കു പോകും; ആശ്രയമറ്റ കൌസല്യയ്ക്ക് നീ തന്നേ നാഥനും രക്ഷകനുമാകണം.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

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

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गमिष्यामि: I shall go
• गमिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सहार्थे (with)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with)

• दण्डकान्: to the Dandaka (forests)
• दण्डकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• अनाथायाः: of the helpless
• अनाथायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘कौशल्यायाः’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• नाथः: protector
• नाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कौशल्यायाः: of Kausalya
• कौशल्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• भविष्यसि: you will be
• भविष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

I shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest and you be the protector of the helpless, Kausalya.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sita
• Lakshmana
• Dandaka (forest)
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma of protection (nāthatva): when rightful support is removed, duty shifts to those capable—Lakshmana should safeguard Kausalya’s well-being.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama frames the exile plan as himself going with Sita, while assigning Lakshmana a home-duty: caring for Kausalya in Ayodhya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective responsibility and service to elders: the ideal of supporting vulnerable family members.