Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 17

गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्

Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणेन समानीतं पीत्वा वारि महायशाः।औपवास्यं तदाऽकार्षीद्राघवस्सह सीतया।।।।

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇena samānītaṃ pītvā vāri mahāyaśāḥ |

aupavāsyaṃ tadā kārṣīd rāghavaḥ saha sītayā ||

Translation

அப்போது மஹாயசஸ்வியான ராகவன் சீதையுடன் லக்ஷ்மணன் கொண்டு வந்த நீரையே அருந்தி உபவாச விரதத்தை மேற்கொண்டான்।

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मणेन: by Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणेन: Karana (करण/by Lakshmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समानीतम्: brought
• समानीतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifies वारि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकाल

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karma (कर्म/Object of पीत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• महायशाः: illustrious
• महायशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण of राघवः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय ('महद् यशः यस्य')

• औपवास्यम्: fasting
• औपवास्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of अकार्षीत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अकार्षीत्: undertook, performed
• अकार्षीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सह: with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition/adverb: with)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahartha (सहार्थ/companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Illustrious Rama along with Sita only drank the water brought by Lakshamana and undertook fasting.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Austerity as dharma in exile: Rāma and Sītā accept minimal sustenance, embodying restraint and resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

After declining offered food, Rāma and Sītā drink water and fast.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and steadfastness in hardship (saṃyama, dhṛti).