Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 8

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मण स्सह सीतया।योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन् वने।।2.48.8।।

Transliteration

ekaḥ satpuruṣo loke lakṣmaṇaḥ saha sītayā |

yo 'nugacchati kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ paricaran vane ||2.48.8||

Translation

ହେ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣ, ଲୋକରେ ସତ୍ୟ ସତ୍ପୁରୁଷ ଓ ଧନ୍ୟ ଜଣେ ମାତ୍ର—ଯିଏ ସୀତାସହ କାକୁତ୍ସ୍ଥ ଶ୍ରୀରାମଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁଗମନ କରି ବନରେ ତାଙ୍କ ସେବା କରେ।

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one; only
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying satpuruṣaḥ/lakṣmaṇaḥ

• satpuruṣaḥ: a good man
• satpuruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक; sat + puruṣa)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'good man'

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह-योगे), governs instrumental

• sītayā: with Sītā
• sītayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anugacchati: follows
• anugacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person, Singular

• kākutstham: Kākutstha (Rama)
• kākutstham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to kākutstham

• paricaran: serving; attending
• paricaran: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√car (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with yaḥ/lakṣmaṇaḥ

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

Lakshmana is the only fortunate person in the world who has followed Rama of the Kakutstha race along with Sita to serve them.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as loyal service and solidarity with the righteous—even in hardship. Lakṣmaṇa’s choice models duty to family and to virtue over comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

The mourners in Ayodhyā praise Lakṣmaṇa as uniquely blessed because he accompanies Rāma into exile and serves him in the forest, along with Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s devotion and self-sacrificing service (sevā, tyāga) are emphasized.