Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 25

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

एको ह्यहमयोध्यां च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण।तरेयमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यमकारणम्।।।।

Transliteration

eko hy aham ayodhyāṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa | tareyam iṣubhiḥ kruddho nanu vīryam akāraṇam ||

Translation

లక్ష్మణా, నేను కోపించితే ఒంటరిగా నా బాణాలతో అయోధ్యనే కాదు, సమస్త భూమినీ వశపరచగలను; కానీ న్యాయమైన కారణం లేకుండా వీర్యప్రదర్శన చేయడం తగదు.

Word by Word

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• तरेयम्: I could cross/overcome
• तरेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• इषुभिः: with arrows
• इषुभिः: Sahakarana (सहकरण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• क्रुद्धः: enraged
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ननु: surely
• ननु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ननु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: surely/indeed; often with reproach)

• वीर्यम्: prowess
• वीर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र ‘अकारणम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्यभावः

• अकारणम्: without cause (in vain)
• अकारणम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘वीर्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Once enraged, O Lakshmana I can overpower Ayodhya, even the whole world all by myself with my arrows. But exhibition of prowess without any reason is not desirable.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Ayodhya

FAQs

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

True strength is governed by dharma: power should not be used merely to prove capability; it must have a righteous cause and proportional purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, in exile, speaks to Lakṣmaṇa about his capacity for force, while restraining himself from acting out of anger or pride.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (dama) and principled conduct—Rāma’s refusal to misuse power even when he possesses it.