Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 7

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम् · Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Spoken by Guha to BharataSetting: Śṛṅgiverapura on the Gaṅgā bankPlaces named: Śṛṅgiverapura, GaṅgāNight halt; protective cordon before onward crossing/travel

Devanagari script

सोऽहं प्रियसखं रामं शयानं सह सीतया ।

रक्षिष्यामि धनुष्पाणि स्सर्वै स्स्वैर्ज्ञातिभिस्सह ॥७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.86.7

Transliteration

so'haṃ priyasakhaṃ rāmaṃ śayānaṃ saha sītayā |

rakṣiṣyāmi dhanuṣpāṇi ssarvai ssvairjñātibhissaha ||7||

Translation

Tak więc ja - z łukiem w ręku, wraz z wszystkimi moimi krewnymi - będę chronił mojego drogiego przyjaciela Ramę, gdy on odpoczywa z Sitą.

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Word by Word

• सः: he/that (person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• प्रियसखम्: dear friend
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय + सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (प्रियः सखा)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• रामम्: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• शयानम्: lying down/sleeping
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रामम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-सम्बन्धबोधक (with/along with)
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)

• सीतया: with Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)

• रक्षिष्यामि: I will protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)

• धनुष्पाणिः: (I,) bow-in-hand
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनुषः पाणिः = whose hand has a bow / bow-in-hand)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सर्वैः: with all
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण (instrumental plural)
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)

• स्वैः: one's own
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ज्ञातिभिः)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive qualifier)

• ज्ञातिभिः: with relatives/kinsmen
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक (with)
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)

Sandhi Notes

• सोऽहम् = सः + अहम्
• स्वैर्ज्ञातिभिः = स्वैः + ज्ञातिभिः
• orthographic doubling in source (ss-) normalized to standard forms

Context

As for me, bow in hand and all my kinsmen with me, I shall protect my dear friend Rama who is resting with Sita.

The teaching

Friendship proves itself through protective action; guarding the vulnerable and honoring the righteous couple is a concrete form of dharma.

Ethical theme

Rakṣā-dharma / sakhya-dharma

For your practice

Sevā expressed as protection—standing guard over the Lord and his consort—models active devotion.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Valiant, watchful, devoted

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection
• Service
• Friendship
• Duty
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Guha
• Bharata
• dhanuṣ (bow)
• kinsmen (jñāti)

FAQs

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

Protecting the righteous and safeguarding guests/friends is a dharmic duty; Guha commits to active protection, not merely goodwill.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha assures Bharata that Rāma and Sītā will be guarded during their vulnerable time of rest in the forest region.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courageous guardianship and steadfast friendship—Guha is ready to defend Rāma with arms and community support.