Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 3

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

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Forest during exile (night watch in camp)Beginning of sustained forest vigilance from this day onward

Devanagari script

जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु ।

योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.53.3

Transliteration

jāgartavyam atandribhyām adyaprabhṛti rātriṣu |

yogakṣemau hi sītāyā varte te lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ ||3||

Translation

जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु। योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः॥

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Word by Word

• jāgartavyam: must keep awake
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jāgṛ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation ‘must be kept awake’
• Role: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)

• atandribhyām: by the two sleepless (ones)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atandra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Dual; ‘by (us) being sleepless’ (instrument of manner)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• adya-prabhṛti: from today onward
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial phrase ‘from today onwards’ (कालवाचक)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• rātriṣu: during the nights
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Plural
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• yoga-kṣemau: acquisition and protection
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound; Masculine, Nominative, Dual
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'vartete')
• Compound: Dvandva

• hi: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• sītāyāḥ: of Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• vartete: depend/are maintained
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Dual, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• āvayoḥ: of us two
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th), Dual
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्याम् → जागर्तव्यम् + अतन्द्रिभ्याम्
• अद्यप्रभृति → अद्य + प्रभृति
• योगक्षेमौ → योग + क्षेमौ (द्वन्द्व)
• लक्ष्मणावयोः → लक्ष्मण + आवयोः (संबोधन + षष्ठी-द्विवचन)

Context

O Lakshmana, from now on we must be sleeplessly vigilant at night. The welfare and safety of Sita depend on us both.

The teaching

Apramāda and shared responsibility are essential to protect the vulnerable; dharma is maintained through disciplined watchfulness.

Ethical theme

Rakṣaṇa-dharma / gṛhastha-like guardianship within exile

How it resolves

Proactive duty allocation (shared vigilance)

For your practice

Practice of apramāda: disciplined vigilance in daily life; guarding one’s commitments and dependents.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Vigilant, resolute, protective

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection
• Householder ethics
• Vigilance
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsibility: protection of the vulnerable and fulfillment of one’s duty through vigilance and disciplined conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

In the forest life of exile, Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to remain alert at night to safeguard Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective duty and foresight—Rāma’s careful planning to uphold safety and righteousness.