Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 4

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

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: ForestFirst night of exile resting outdoors

Devanagari script

रात्रिं कथञ्चिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे ।

अपावर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमार्जितैः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.4

Transliteration

rātriṃ kathañcidevemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe |

apāvartāmahe bhūmāv āstīrya svayamārjitaiḥ ||4||

Translation

Wahai Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), malam ini harus kita lalui juga walau bagaimana pun; kita akan berbaring di atas bumi, menghamparkan apa yang kita kumpulkan sendiri.

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Word by Word

• rātrim: night
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'vartayāmahe')

• kathañcit: somehow
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• imām: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (determiner)

• saumitre: O Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• vartayāmahe: we will pass (the night)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + causative vartaya (णिच्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• apāvartāmahe: we will lie down
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-ā-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person, Plural, Ātmanepada; ‘we will lie down/turn back (to rest)’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• āstīrya: having spread
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having spread’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• svayam: by ourselves
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), reflexive adverb
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ārjitaiḥ: with (things) procured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying implied 'tṛṇaiḥ/śayyā-dravyaiḥ' (things procured)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

Sandhi Notes

• कथञ्चिदेवेमाम् → कथञ्चित् + एव + इमाम्
• भूमावास्तीर्य → भूमौ + आस्तीर्य
• स्वयमार्जितैः → स्वयम् + आर्जितैः

Context

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.

The teaching

Dharma is sustained by patient endurance; even rightful heirs accept hardship without complaint when duty demands.

Duties in tension

• Kshatriya-royal comfort and status
• Vanavasa-dharma of austerity and endurance
• Protecting Lakshmana’s morale vs acknowledging hardship

Ethical theme

Dharma (steadfastness/forbearance)

How it resolves

Renunciatory acceptance

For your practice

Practice of contentment and austerity (santosha, aparigraha); meditative reflection on Rama as exemplar of dharmic endurance.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Austere, weary, steadfast

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Austerity
• Renunciation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• ground (bhūmi)
• night (rātri)

FAQs

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

Dharma in exile means accepting hardship without complaint—choosing simplicity and self-reliance as part of righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

During the early phase of forest-exile, Rāma prepares to spend the night outdoors, instructing Lakṣmaṇa to accept the new conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Contentment and resilience: Rāma models calm acceptance and practical adaptation.