Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shloka 10

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम्

Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

कथं दाशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ dāśarathau bhūmau śayāne saha sītayā | śakyā nidrā mayā labdhuṃ jīvitaṃ vā sukhāni vā ||

Translation

దాశరథి రాముడు సీతతో కలిసి నిరావరణ భూమిపై శయనించుచుండగా, నాకు నిద్ర ఎలా కలుగును? జీవితం గానీ సుఖములు గానీ ఎలా సాధ్యము?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• दाशरथौ: when/while (Rama) the son of Dasaratha
• दाशरथौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location/Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; वैकल्पिक-रूप (locative singular used for रामे = in/when Rama)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• शयाने: while lying down
• शयाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दाशरथौ)

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

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

• शक्या: possible
• शक्या: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate: possible)

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• लब्धुम्: to obtain
• लब्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), कर्तरि प्रयोग; क्रियार्थक (to obtain)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म/Alternative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विकल्पार्थे (as an alternative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (or)

• सुखानि: comforts/pleasures
• सुखानि: Karma (कर्म/Alternative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विकल्पार्थे

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (or)

Context

While Rama sleep on the ground with Sita, how can I find sleep or joy or comfort?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Daśaratha
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Guha

FAQs

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

Dharma is selfless service: Lakṣmaṇa cannot indulge in personal ease while Rāma and Sītā endure hardship; duty overrides comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

During the forest exile, as Rāma lies down with Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa remains wakeful and distressed, speaking to Guha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering sevā (attentive service) and empathy—his inability to rest when his elder brother suffers.