Valmiki Ramayana 2.87.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 22

गुहसंवादः · रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्

Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt

Spoken by Guha to Bharata

Devanagari script

नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् शरैस्सुपूर्णाविषुधी परन्तपः ।

महाद्धनु स्सज्यमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत्परितोऽस्य केवलम् ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.87.22

Transliteration

niyamya pṛṣṭhe tu talāṅgulitravān śaraiḥ supūrṇāv iṣudhī parantapaḥ |

mahād dhanuḥ sajyam upohya lakṣmaṇo niśām atiṣṭhat parito 'sya kevalam ||22||

Translation

ശത്രുദമകനായ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ കൈത്തളത്തിനും വിരലുകൾക്കും രക്ഷാകവചം ധരിച്ചു, പിൻഭാഗത്ത് അമ്പുകൾ നിറഞ്ഞ രണ്ടു തൂണീരുകൾ കെട്ടി, മഹാധനുസ്സിനെ ചരടുകെട്ടി സജ്ജമാക്കി, രാമനെ ചുറ്റും ഏകാന്തമായി രാത്രിയൊട്ടു ജാഗരിച്ച് കാവൽ നിന്നു.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• niyamya: having fastened/strapped
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)

• tu: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक
• Role: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)

• talāṅgulitravān: wearing palm-and-finger guards
• Type: Adjective
• Root: talāṅguli-tra (प्रातिपदिक) + -vat (तद्धित)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'तलयोः अङ्गुलीनां च त्रं' protective covering for palms and fingers), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (parantapaḥ/ lakṣmaṇaḥ)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करणम्)

• supūrṇa: well-filled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (su+pūrṇa = very full), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (iṣudhī)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• iṣudhī: two quivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣudhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता-संज्ञा), द्विवचन
• Role: Sahabhāva/Upādhi (सहभाव/उपाधि)

• parantapaḥ: the scorcher of foes (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parantapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परान् तपति = scorches enemies), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mahat: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (dhanuḥ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sajyam: strung
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (dhanuḥ)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)

• upohya: having taken/held
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√uh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• niśām: the night
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/काल-अत्यन्त-संयोग), एकवचन; कालवाचक
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरणम्)

• atiṣṭhat: stood
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• paritaḥ: around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paritas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्गसदृश-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरणम्)

• asya: of him (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• kevalam: alone/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial use), क्रियाविशेषण
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)

Sandhi Notes

• śaraiḥ supūrṇa- (visarga before s)
• supūrṇāviṣudhī = supūrṇa + iṣudhī (ā- sandhi)
• mahāt dhanuḥ (t+d)
• dhanuḥ sajyam (visarga before s)
• niśām atiṣṭhat (m+a)
• parito'sya = paritaḥ + asya (visarga→o)

Context

Lakshmana, the scorcher of enemies, wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of goha-skin), strapping on his back two quivers filled with arrows,holding a great bow, strung ready, stood sentinel throughout the night guarding the surrounding.

The teaching

Rakṣā and sevā are fulfilled through apramāda—unbroken, disciplined vigilance for the one entrusted to you.

Ethical theme

Kṣātra-dharma / sevā-dharma

For your practice

Model for niyama and apramāda: sustained attentiveness, guarding one’s vows and responsibilities through ‘night’ (difficulty).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Vigilant, steadfast, night-watch

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection
• Seva (Service)
• Maryada
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• bow (dhanuḥ)

FAQs

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

Protective duty as dharma: Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance shows that love is expressed as responsibility—guarding the vulnerable while they rest.

What is the narrative situation?

While Rāma and Sītā sleep, Lakṣmaṇa keeps armed watch throughout the night.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering loyalty and readiness to defend (bhakti, vīrya, apramāda).