Valmiki Ramayana 2.56.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 8

चित्रकूटगमनम् तथा पर्णशालाप्रवेशः

Arrival at Chitrakuta and Establishing the Leaf-Hut

Devanagari script

पश्य द्रोणप्रमाणानि लम्बमानानि लक्ष्मण।मधूनि मधुकारीभि स्सम्भृतानि नगे नगे।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.56.8

Transliteration

paśya droṇa-pramāṇāni lambamānāni lakṣmaṇa | madhūni madhukārībhiḥ sambhṛtāni nage nage ||

Translation

ലക്ഷ്മണാ, നോക്കുക—ദ്രോണപരിമാണംപോലെ വലുതായ തേൻചട്ടകൾ താഴേക്ക് തൂങ്ങി നിൽക്കുന്നു; തേൻചീറ്റകൾ ഓരോ വൃക്ഷത്തിലും ആ തേൻ സംഭരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ, Madhyama, Ekavacana

• droṇa-pramāṇāni: of droṇa-measure (very large)
• droṇa-pramāṇāni: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: droṇa + pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa ‘having the measure of a droṇa’ used adjectivally

• lambamānāni: hanging down
• lambamānāni: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lambamāna (कृदन्त; √lamb धातु)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; śatṛ-pratyaya present participle (लट्-कृदन्त)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• madhūni: honeys
• madhūni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• madhukārībhiḥ: by bees
• madhukārībhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhukārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• sambhṛtāni: collected, stored
• sambhṛtāni: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-bhṛta (कृदन्त; √bhṛ धातु)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; past passive participle (क्त)

• nage: in a tree
• nage: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• nage: in each tree
• nage: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; repetition for distributive sense

Context

O Lakshmana! see the honeycombs of the size of wooden vessels crowded by the honeybees hanging down from every tree.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Trust in rightful living: when one follows dharma, one learns to rely on honest, non-exploitative means of sustenance, recognizing nature’s provisions without greed.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues to point out plentiful forest resources (honeycombs) to show that survival in exile is feasible.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and leadership: Rāma encourages Lakṣmaṇa by calmly evaluating resources and guiding the group’s next steps.