Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 4

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

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

Devanagari script

रात्रिं कथञ्चिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे।अपावर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमार्जितैः।।।।

Transliteration

rātriṃ kathañcidevemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe | apāvartāmahe bhūmāv āstīrya svayamārjitaiḥ ||

Translation

اے سومِترے (لکشمن)! ہمیں کسی نہ کسی طرح یہ رات گزارنی ہے؛ ہم زمین پر لیٹیں گے اور جو کچھ ہم نے خود جمع کیا ہے اسے بچھا لیں گے۔

Word by Word

• rātrim: night
• rātrim: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'vartayāmahe')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• kathañcit: somehow
• kathañcit: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म) (determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• saumitre: O Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• vartayāmahe: we will pass (the night)
• vartayāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + causative vartaya (णिच्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada

• apāvartāmahe: we will lie down
• apāvartāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-ā-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person, Plural, Ātmanepada; ‘we will lie down/turn back (to rest)’

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• āstīrya: having spread
• āstīrya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having spread’

• svayam: by ourselves
• svayam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), reflexive adverb

• ārjitaiḥ: with (things) procured
• ārjitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying implied 'tṛṇaiḥ/śayyā-dravyaiḥ' (things procured)

Context

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)
• ground (bhūmi)
• night (rātri)

FAQs

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

Dharma in exile means accepting hardship without complaint—choosing simplicity and self-reliance as part of righteous living.

What is the narrative situation?

During the early phase of forest-exile, Rāma prepares to spend the night outdoors, instructing Lakṣmaṇa to accept the new conditions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Contentment and resilience: Rāma models calm acceptance and practical adaptation.